Sadio Mane and Thiago Alcantara have given Liverpool a huge boost ahead of their return to Premier League action against Everton in Saturday’s Merseyside derby.
Mane and Thiago were all smiles in training at Melwood on Tuesday, having completed their respective periods of self-isolation after both recently tested positive for coronavirus.
And both players were looking happy and raring to go after returning negative results for Covid-19 at the club’s training complex on Monday.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp will now run the rule over both players to determine whether they have retained enough fitness to start against Everton at Goodison on Saturday.
The pair’s return to training will have given the manager a huge lift as he formulates a plan to topple Carlo Ancelotti’s early Premier League leaders, who have a 100% record so far this season.
Both Mane and Thiago missed Liverpool’s last game before the international break, when they were thrashed 7-2 by Aston Villa in one of the most remarkable results in Premier League history.
Thiago has in fact played only 45 minutes since joining the Reds, having impressed after being brought on at half-time during their 2-0 win at Chelsea last month.
Senegal forward Mane and Spain midfielder Thiago also missed games for their respective countries during the international break as they continued to self-isolate.
Klopp tends to turn to players who have rested during international breaks.
And with some of his stars playing across the globe and not due back until Thursday, the manager will be inclined to include both Thiago and Mane against Everton if they are fit enough.
Klopp seems likely to be without Naby Keita, after the midfielder tested positive for the virus while on international duty with his country Guinea.
The midfielder tested positive with four other members of the Guinea team while preparing for friendly games against Cape Verde and Gambia in Portugal, and went into immediate isolation.