The pair took part in full training on Monday and appear set to return to the pitch for the team this week after their respective knee and calf injuries.

Liverpool have missed both players in recent games, with the remaining midfielders struggling to screen as well as Fabinho does and dictate play as well as Thiago does.

However, Naby Keita, who lasted less than 20 minutes against Brighton and Hove Albion after being deemed fit, is now facing a spell on the sidelines.

The hamstring injury he picked up inside the first quarter of the 2-2 draw with Graham Potter’s men at Anfield will see him miss several games.

On top of this, James Milner will still be sidelined for Liverpool’s potential qualification-sealing match against the side that knocked them out of the Champions League in a match that has become infamous for various reasons.

Jürgen Klopp told his pre-match press conference: “Naby has a hamstring injury so will be out for a while.

“Apart from that, Millie it’s clear [ that he won’t be involved] and the others who are out long-term will be out as well.

“Fabinho and Thiago trained completely normally and are in contention, which is good obviously. It’s very helpful and so we will see.

“Injuries [in this] period of the season are completely normal, as long as they are not too harsh we have to accept that. The players will be back, hopefully soon, and then they are in contention again as well.

“But for tomorrow only the fit players, obviously.”

Liverpool play host to Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday night at 8 pm. The game is the reverse fixture of the Klopp and co.’s last Champions League outing – a 3-2 win at the Wanda Metropolitano in the Spanish capital.

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The Liverpool No.8 had to be withdrawn during the first half of Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion due to a hamstring injury, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain coming on in his place.

The substitution took place just 19 minutes into the game and the Guinean’s latest injury follows Paul Pogba’s woeful tackle on the midfielder in the 5-0 win over Manchester United the Sunday previous.

Keita will undergo a scan on the issue to determine its severity, but Klopp does not anticipate the midfielder can be involved versus Atletico.

“He told me, he showed me [the] hamstring,” Klopp said to Liverpoolfc.com post-match. “So, I don’t know, we will see; obviously tomorrow [or] the day after tomorrow he will have a scan and then we will know.

“But if somebody feels the hamstring, it would be the first time that he is ready for the next game. So, I can’t see that.”

Keita has already missed 54 games for Liverpool due to injury in his time with the club, amassing 14 injuries over three years in red, with this hamstring injury set to add to that.

The large number of injuries does not include the knock that he recovered from in time to face Brighton.

Liverpool currently have three fit midfielders in their squad – Jordan Henderson, Curtis Jones and Oxlade-Chamberlain.

19-year-old Tyler Morton, who celebrated his birthday on Halloween, is also available for selection, having been named on the bench for Saturday’s game.

It remains to be seen whether Thiago Alcantara or Fabinho will be deemed fit for the match against the Spanish champions.

Thiago Alcantara joined in on Thursday’s session as he continued his recovery from a calf injury but was not named in the matchday squad at the weekend.

Fabinho’s knee issue kept him out of the clash with Graham Potter’s Seagulls – it is the third game in a row that Liverpool did not have him at their disposal.

Jurgen Klopp’s Reds face Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday, November 3 at 8 pm.

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Robertson has played 177 times for the Reds, scoring 5 times and assisting 37 times in the four years he has spent at the club.

The Scotsman has won four trophies with Liverpool – the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup and the Premier League.

The left-back finalised the deal at the AXA Training Centre on Tuesday and spoke to Liverpoolfc.com of his delight in doing so.

“Obviously when the negotiations started and it looked as if my future was going to be here longer term than what it was, then I think it’s no secret that I’m happy at this club,” Robertson told Liverpoolfc.com.

“I want to stay at this club for as long as possible and to extend my stay, it’s always a happy time for me, for my family. We’re settled here, we love everything about this football club and I’m glad that the journey is continuing.”

Since joining the Reds from Hull City in the summer of 2017, Robertson has established himself as a core member of Jürgen Klopp’s side.

The 27-year-old becomes the fifth member of Klopp’s squad to commit his future to Liverpool in recent weeks, following Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk.

Robertson continued: “When you sign for a massive club, I still remember the day as if it was yesterday when I signed here and obviously you have ambitions to become a regular player for Liverpool, to win trophies for this club, to do everything else but the way it’s gone has been excellent.

“But since the very start of my career I’ve always been one to look forward: that’s in the past, that’s something that I can sit down with the people who want to listen to me when I’ve hung up my boots and retired and I can tell them all the stories that we’ve already made.

“But I’m certainly one, and I know a lot of people in this training ground just now are people to look forward and people [who want] to create more history, more stories. Hopefully people get bored of me when I’ve retired and I can sit down for hours and hours and tell them about all the stories!

“They’re certainly building up but I want to make more and obviously hopefully starting with this season. We want to achieve more, we want to bring hopefully more trophies, more happiness to this club.

“The only way of doing that is by working hard and having the same application that we have done since day one.”

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Thirty-two teams competed in the first round of the Champions League group stages provided a considerable amount of drama and entertainment. This week’s round of fixtures were just the start of what will be a long – and hopefully enjoyable – Champions League campaign.

There was plenty of Premier League interest as no less than four teams from the English top flight competed. Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool fans will be content knowing that their teams managed to come out on top. Chelsea, on the other hand, failed to impress against Europa League winners Sevilla.

Here’s our Champions League team of the week based on the first round of fixtures:

GOALKEEPER

DAVID DE GEA – MANCHESTER UNITED

Although he hasn’t necessarily enjoyed the best couple of years for Manchester United, David De Gea proved on Wednesday night that he still has much to offer. Dean Henderson isn’t too far behind him in the pecking order, so it’s important that he continues to perform in order to retain the number one spot.

De Gea produced several fine saves to keep out PSG. There was nothing he could do about the PSG goal as Martial headed into his own net from a corner. He frustrated the PSG frontline with his agility and positioning throughout the night in what was on of his best performances for a while. Perhaps De Gea could be back to his best.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: @D_DeGea is tonight’s Man of the Match! #MUFC #UCL pic.twitter.com/ibeHenQvvS

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) OCTOBER 20, 2020

RIGHT BACK

AARON WAN-BISSAKA – MANCHESTER UNITED

Another Man United player to start off the XI, Wan-Bissaka produced a very good defensive performance against PSG.

Wan-Bissaka managed to keep Neymar and Mbappe quiet as they regularly operated down his side. There’s no doubting Wan-Bissaka’s defensive capabilities, especially in an era where full backs are often more adept in the final third. He displayed his defensive acumen several times throughout as he regularly dispossessed the PSG players with his gangly legs.

He failed to penetrate the PSG backline going forward but he more than made up for that with his performance in his own half.

CENTRE BACK

FABINHO – LIVERPOOL

Virgil Van Dijk’s absence meant that someone had to fill his position to partner Joe Gomez. The player chosen to do so was Fabinho. Although not a natural centre back, he has played in the position last season after previous injury issues within the team. You wouldn’t be able to tell he’s not a centre back based on Thursday performance.

In what was arguably one of the best performances of Fabinho’s Liverpool career to date, he consistently broke down PSG’s momentum with great anticipation, positional play and tackling. He made the most important play of the game from a Liverpool perspective as he cleared what would have been a certain goal off the line.

Fabinho’s clearance off the line pic.twitter.com/y2TIQDvEWt

— B/R Football (@brfootball) OCTOBER 21, 2020

If Fabinho can keep up those kind of performances at centre back, Liverpool will be in safe hands in the absence of Van Dijk.

The midfielder looked Fab at centre-back…

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) OCTOBER 22, 2020

CENTRE BACK

CRISTIAN ROMERO – ATALANTA (ON LOAN FROM JUVENTUS)

Romero made his Champions League debut this week against Midtjylland and he certainly impressed. The young Argentine centre back is on loan from Juventus and it might not be long before he breaks into the first team at the Old Lady if he keeps up these kind of performances, especially with many of their defenders aging.

Romero was solid defensively in an Atalanta backline which kept a clean sheet. Additionally, he appeared very comfortable on the ball and even managed to chip in with an assist.

The 22-year-old centre back certainly has a bright future in the game.

LEFT BACK

ANGELINO – RB LEIPZIG (ON LOAN FROM MANCHESTER CITY)

Although normally a left back, Angelino has played on the left wing for Leipzig so far this season to good effect. We’ve put him in our XI at left back due to other impressive performances at left wing, but we couldn’t leave him out of the team.

Not normally known for his goalscoring ability, he netted all of his sides’ goals in a 2-0 victory over Istanbul. His late running into the box caused serious problems for the Istanbul back four as he consistently found himself finding space.

Manchester City may come to regret sending Angelino out on loan as left back is arguably their weakest position.

Angelino | 16′
Angelino | 20′

What a start for @RBLeipzig_EN #UCL #ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/SjAOy1T558

— Goal (@goal) October 20, 2020

RIGHT WING

TETE – SHAKHTAR DONETSK

In a shock result at the Santiago Bernabeu, Shakhtar came away with a 3-2 victory against Real Madrid. Madrid were strong favourites for the tie, especially considering that Shakhtar were missing no less than ten first team players due to positive covid-19 tests.

Tete played a massive role in gathering the win by scoring one and assisting one. His goal was a perfectly placed low shot into the bottom corner. Courtois failed to get a hand on the ball despite being at full stretch. His assist was also delightful as he backheeled the ball into the path of Manor Soloman who made no mistake with his finish.

Tete is a talented young player. After coming through the youth academy of Gremio, he moved to Shakhtar in 2019 and has made quite an impression since. We wouldn’t be surprised if he earned a move abroad within the next few years. The player himself has identified Manchester United as a dream destination, so maybe United fans could have something to look forward to in the next couple of years.

CENTRE MIDFIELD

JOSHUA KIMMICH – BAYERN MUNICH

In one of the more embarrassing results of the first week, Bayern comfortably dispatched of Atletico Madrid by 4-0.

Joshua Kimmich played a key role in the victory as he looked very comfortable on the ball, providing an assist in the process. The versatile midfielder is arguably one of the most underappreciated players in the world. An integral part of the Bayern squad which has been making serious noise within the last year or so, he rarely gets the plaudits he deserves.

Kimmich. Straight BALLER pic.twitter.com/DoqnRpj7je

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) OCTOBER 21, 2020

CENTRE MIDFIELD

CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU – RB LEIPZIG

Like Angelino, Nkunku also played well in Leipzig’s comfortable win over Istanbul.

He played well as he looked very comfortable on the ball and even linked with Angelino as he provided an assist for the Spaniard. Nkunku has played well for Leipzig since transferring from a PSG team where he was nothing more than a rotation play. He has settled well in the Bundesliga and has certainly been a good acquisition for Leipzig.

LEFT WING

KINGSLEY COMAN – BAYERN MUNICH

Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry being ruled out meant Kingsley had the opportunity to start against Atletico. He made use of that opportunity as he was the best player on the pitch that night.

Coman scored two and also assisted one in a man of the match performance. Coman has had an illustrious career so far despite not being a regular starter anywhere he has gone. Perhaps after yesterday’s performance he can find a permanent place in the squad, although it will prove nearly impossible to displace Sane and Gnabry.

Long live the #UCL King pic.twitter.com/veTnbKEXCw

— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) OCTOBER 21, 2020

STRIKER

LIONEL MESSI – BARCELONA

After a slow start to the season by his standards, Lionel Messi was back to top form as he helped the Blaugrana overcame Ferencvaros.

Messi scored and assisted in what was a top performance. His all-around play was also impressive as he made four key passes and was a constant threat to the Ferencvaros defence. I don’t think there was any doubt that Messi would get back to his best as the season progressed, but this performance will certainly help him do so.

Ferencvaros became the 36th team Leo Messi has scored against in the Champions League, extending his own record pic.twitter.com/MftkCFRNoh

— B/R Football (@brfootball) OCTOBER 21, 2020

STRIKER

ALVARO MORATA – JUVENTUS (ON LOAN FROM ATLETICO MADRID)

Morata is an often-maligned figure in world football, particularly after his unsuccessful spell at Chelsea. On his day though, Morata is a world class striker and he proved so on Tuesday with a fine poaching display.

Morata scored Juventus’s two goals as they ran out as winners against Dynamo Kiev. His off the ball movement, positioning and anticipation were too much for the Kiev defence to handle as he put in a quality striking display.

When they say #𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗮……..#DynamoJuve #JuveUCL #ForzaJuve pic.twitter.com/1DFfI3Enzl

— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen)

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