Firmino returns to training

Roberto Firmino has returned to training ahead of Liverpool's EFL Cup third-round tie against Derby County on Tuesday.

Firmino did not feature in Liverpool's 201 defeat of Chelsea on Friday due to a minor groin injury, but the 24-year-old trained with his team-mates on Monday and could be included in Jurgen Klopp's side for the trip to Derby.

"Roberto is in training," Klopp told a news conference. "We checked him yesterday. We checked him yesterday and this day again because the medical department told me he could've played [against Chelsea] but I heard the word 'risk' too often and I decided no.

"I'm very happy that it worked out but I was told if we give him three days then everything will be perfect. Today is the fourth day and he had already three, so he's in [contention for Tuesday]."

Mamadou Sakho, meanwhile, has also returned to training but the defender has been warned he must work on his fitness if he wants to break back into the first-team.

Sakho missed the end of last season after he was provisionally suspended for testing positive for a banned fat-burning substance. He was subsequently cleared of a doping violation but an Achilles injury ruled him out of the club's pre-season tour to the United States.

He travelled with the rest of the squad to America, only to be sent home early because of a poor attitude and he has yet to feature for the club this season.

Having fallen down the pecking order, Sakho was linked with a loan move away but he opted to stay at Anfield and fight for his place in the team and Klopp has warned him that he must improve his fitness.

"He is still working on it. He is close. He is still working but match fitness is a big difference and that's all," Klopp explained.

"It's been a long, long time that he didn't play and that's for sure. All the other players didn't have that long a break and then it makes more sense that you really use the time and that's what we're working on."

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