Reds head to Dubai for mid-season training camp

Jürgen Klopp and his Liverpool FC squad - minus those involved in the FIFA World Cup - departed for the United Arab Emirates on Monday afternoon. Matches against Olympique Lyonnais and AC Milan await.

While the eyes of the football world are on events in Qatar, where six Liverpool FC players are preparing for the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals, Jürgen Klopp and his remaining Reds have flown out for a Middle-East assignment of their own.

Klopp has named a 33-strong squad for a training camp in Dubai, which will feature clashes against both Olympique Lyonnais and AC Milan in the Dubai Super Cup, before the return to Merseyside and an EFL Cup clash against Manchester City FC on December 22.

Luis Diaz, Naby Keita, Diogo Jota and Arthur Melo have all been included in the travelling party, with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Thiago, Andy Robertson, James Milner and Roberto Firmino also taking their seats on Monday’s flight to the United Arab Emirates.

Darwin Nunez, part of the Uruguay side eliminated in the group stages in Qatar, will join his club teammates next week.

The LFC training squad in full can be found here.

With England, France, the Netherlands and Brazil all advancing to the last eight in Qatar, a number of LFC players will be hoping they can help their countries to achieve the ultimate goal of lifting the World Cup trophy on December 18.

Jordan Henderson, who scored in the last 16 victory over Senegal, and Trent Alexander-Arnold will come face-to-face with their club colleague Ibrahima Konaté when England take on France on Saturday.

Alisson and Fabinho’s Brazil will face Croatia on Friday afternoon, while Virgil van Dijk will lead out the Netherlands against Lionel Messi and Argentina later the same evening.

Meanwhile, Stefan Bajcetic has been talking about the positional switch that has helped him to make rapid progress towards the Reds’ first team, having made both his Premier League and UEFA Champions League debuts this season.

The 18-year-old Spanish youth international is one of LFC’s most promising young stars, and the move to the middle of the park has been pivotal in establishing Bajcetic as a regular among the senior team.

“I had always been a centre-back but sometimes I used to play a bit higher as well,” Bajcetic explained.

“But although I was usually a central defender, I was quite good at getting out with the ball and then Bridgey [Marc Bridge-Wilkinson] and Alex [Inglethorpe] thought it was a good idea to put me in midfield and I guess it has worked!

“I'm naturally quite a defensive player and I like to defend but I also like to attack when I have the opportunity, so it means I have the chance to do both by playing in there.

“The impact of the staff at the Academy has been very big. With the move to midfield, Bridgey was aiding me a lot in terms of how to receive the ball, how to get myself oriented and know what's around me – and that has helped me a lot. Alex has always given me tips as well. I have always been learning from them and I still am.”

Finally, a true legend of Liverpool Football Club has announced his retirement from his role with the Academy.

Steve Heighway made 475 appearances for the club, scoring 76 goals and winning a number of trophies including league titles and European Cups.

He would go on to serve as LFC’s head of youth development for a remarkable 18 years, ushering the likes of Jamie Carragher, Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard towards the first team, before initially retiring in 2007.

Heighway, 75, returned to the LFC Academy in 2015, and Academy manager Alex Inglethorpe paid tribute to a true Anfield great.

“Steve has decided it is the right time to retire from his coaching role at the club,” Inglethorpe told LiverpoolFC.com.

“Steve has not only enjoyed a successful playing career at the club, but also an incredible coaching career lasting over 40 years, in which he has overseen the development of some of the most iconic players to have played for Liverpool Football Club.

“Whilst Steve may no longer be putting on his boots to work on the grass, he will still be at the Academy to watch games and share his expertise and wisdom for those fortunate to be in his company.

“I would like to lead the thanks to Steve for the time and guidance that he has given to not only myself but to all of us at the Academy over the last seven years.”