Six Liverpool players return to training in blow to Everton ahead of derby
Liverpool have seen six key players, including Cody Gakpo, return to training on Thursday 19 October, in a fresh blow to Everton ahead of the Merseyside derby on 21 October, according to The Athletic.
The report from James Pearce on 19 October shared that Gakpo has returned from a knee injury which kept him out of their last two games, while Alexis Mac Allister, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Alisson have also trained after returning from international duty.
Diogo Jota is the last of the Liverpool contingent to return, having served his one-match ban. This will come as a blow to Everton, who would have been holding out hope for further delays in their progress.
The four players returning from international duty in South America had been subject to speculation, with the fixtures often causing issues with regard to jet lag and other problems on their return to England. Having them back in training two days before the game is a big boost to the red side of Merseyside.
Gakpo, meanwhile, has scored in five of his last six games for club and country and will prove a threat yet again against an Everton defence that, while it has been solid at times, has leaked twelve goals in eight games so far.
There would have been some hopes at Goodison Park that those four players would continue to suffer issues ahead of the game in a potential boost for their chances, but now they will have to cope with a Liverpool side at almost full strength.
Sean Dyche will have had his side preparing for the worst, and they will be ready to face whatever Liverpool throw at them, but there is no doubt the chances of a win would have been improved if injuries and travel-related issues continued to plague their rivals.
In other Everton news, Tony Bellew has fumed at Everton woes live on talkSPORT.