Liverpool returned to training for the first time as Premier League champions on Wednesday, having clinched the title last Sunday courtesy of thrashing Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield. The Reds came from behind to claim an emphatic 5-1 win.
Having only needed one more point to officially clinch the league, Arne Slot’s men won the Premier League in style as they clinched the championship with a month to spare. They now boast a 15-point advantage over second-placed Arsenal with four games left to play.
With the title now won, it remains to be seen if Slot will opt to rotate and take more of a look at some of Liverpool’s fringe and younger players before the end of the season.
Slot’s side return to action for the first time as champions away at Champions League-chasing Chelsea on Sunday.
Reds legend Jamie Carragher had previously suggested that the Dutchman should start Conor Bradley ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold for the remainder of the season, given the fact that the Liverpool vice-captain is out of contract and expected to join Real Madrid when his deal expires.
Slot had no choice but to start the England international against Tottenham, despite him only returning from a near six-week lay-off the week before against Leicester City, after Bradley was ruled out against Spurs because of a knock.
The Northern Ireland international had been expected to return to training this week, but was not pictured when Liverpool returned to training on Wednesday with his availability against Chelsea remaining a doubt as a result.
He was not the only player not spotted in training on Wednesday, with Joe Gomez and Tyler Morton also not pictured out on the pitches at the AXA Training Centre.
Slot had previously shared his hope that Gomez could return for the final games of the season after undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury in February.
If his recovery goes well, he would be able to in the last one or two games of the season but he is still not training with us yet,” Slot said. “But he is coming closer and closer to training with the team.
“But then he has been out for a long time… I think he will be available in the last one, two or three games if his recovery goes the way as planned.”
But with Gomez not pictured in team training on Wednesday, it would appear he might not yet be closing in on a comeback.
With Liverpool not making the trip to Stamford Bridge until Sunday, both players do have time to return to training – if ready – and prove their fitness before the Reds’ next outing.
Slot is likely to offer an injury update when he sits down for his pre-match press conference on Friday morning at 9am.
While the trio were not pictured in training, youngsters Trey Nyoni and James McConnell were both spotted. Should Slot turn wish to hand any of his younger players some game-time, they are well-placed to be included.
Likewise, the likes of Federico Chiesa, Harvey Elliott and Wataru Endo will all be hoping to catch Slot’s eye after training as normal on Wednesday. The trio are yet to start a Premier League game this season.
Elsewhere, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota will also be hoping for starting opportunities upfront, having seen Luis Diaz selected through the middle for Liverpool’s last two games.
After the Reds’ trip to Stamford Bridge, Liverpool will host Arsenal in their penultimate home game of the season on May 11.
They then travel to Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday 19 May, before concluding their campaign at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday 25 May.
They could be a customary guard of honour in all four matches while, following their clash with the Eagles, they will be presented with the Premier League trophy.
