Liverpool takes on Sparta Prague in the Europa League on Thursday night before taking on Man City and there was some positive signs at the AXA Training Centre this week.

Liverpool faces a huge week with clashes against Sparta Prague and Manchester City
Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp has seen his squad ravaged with injuries since the turn of the year but has somehow kept his side’s quadruple quest alive.

Liverpool was without 11 players for the Carabao Cup final last month as the Reds’ young guns stepped up to the plate.

The situation worsened at Wembley after losing Ryan Gravenberch and then Wataru Endō after the match but there was no excuses from the Liverpool boss. Fortunately for Klopp, Endō was able to feature off the bench at Nottingham Forest on Sunday, alongside Dominik Szoboszlai and match-winner Darwin Núñez.

Núñez had been sidelined since picking up a knock at Brentford while Szoboszlai had made just one start since January 1 after aggravating a hamstring problem. But both are now back fit and will give Klopp a major boost ahead of this week’s clashes with Sparta Prague and Manchester City.

But it appears there is another double boost on the cards for the Anfield boss. Liverpool posted a series of pictures on social media on Tuesday as its players arrived at the AXA Training Centre to prepare for the trip to the Czech capital.

And among them were Gravenberch and fellow sidelined midfielder Curtis Jones, who was forced off with an ankle injury at Brentford. Both players have been seen on crutches in recent weeks but Gravenberch was seen arriving unaided, walking freely. Jones meanwhile was only carrying a protective boot as he walked with Andy Robertson.

It appears Dutch international Gravenberch is the closest to returning out of the pair after he was forced off at Wembley. The 21-year-old was on the receiving end of a late challenge from Moisés Caicedo but Klopp later confirmed it was a ligament injury rather than a break.

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Speaking last week before the FA Cup win over Southampton, Klopp said: “It’s a ligament injury, it could have been much worse, but it’s bad enough for him to be ruled out for this game, next game, then we will see.” Klopp will likely issue another update when he speaks to the media on Wednesday evening but there does appear an outside chance that he could be back this week.

Jones meanwhile was in excellent form before his own setback. Reds assistant boss Pep Lijnders suggested recently that he would be back ‘around the international break’, which comes after the FA Cup clash with Manchester United. That would indicate he won’t be risked before then but the images do suggest Liverpool’s injury situation is improving.

Mohamed Salah is expected to come back into contention against Sparta Prague after his own injury troubles as Klopp must decide to give him some minutes before the clash with City. The likes of Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota remain sidelined for the time being though, as do longer-term absentees Joël Matip and Thiago Alcântara.

Liverpool.com says: While Gravenberch and Jones could have been at the training ground to continue their rehabilitation, the sight of both players walking freely without protection or crutches is a big positive for Liverpool fans. Klopp is short of options right now and with the Reds still in the mix for three competitions, he will be desperate to add some depth in the coming weeks. It remains to be seen if Gravenberch will be risked against Sparta Prague or Manchester City though.