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Liverpool’s dynamic Brazilian duo of Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho have returned to full-time training ahead of the showdown with arch-rivals Manchester United. The two were last seen dashing the World Cup hopes of Chile in a 3-0 victory for Brazil. Coutinho started and racked up 86 minutes before being replaced by his club teammate who saw out the match.
Although Firmino and Coutinho had the most travel over the break, they were not the only ones returning to training today. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Marko Grujic, Ragnar Klavan, Simon Mignolet, Dominic Solanke and Georginio Wijnaldum all returned from either senior or youth international competitive football to participate in training today.
In an alternate reality, one in which Liverpool rarely resides, Jurgen Klopp would not have to rely so heavily on the undoubtedly jet-lagged Brazilian pair for our attack. But because ETW controls everything in this universe, Sadio Mane is not one of the returning internationals, and he must rely on the Brazilians to produce magic.
Hopefully Liverpool, Mane sadly withstanding, will be close to fully fit as Premier League action once again kicks off following the break with yet another big showdown with a Manchester club. Please don’t let it end the same way as last time.