Liverpool handed huge fitness boost ahead of Aston Villa clash

Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones was back in full training on Wednesday as he seeks to make his return to first-team action.

The 22-year-old, who was integral to Liverpool's late resurgence last season, came off the bench in the opening fixture against Chelsea but has not been seen since after picking up an ankle problem.

Jones was spotted back in training at the AXA Training Centre on Wednesday and now appears set to make his comeback when Liverpool host Aston Villa at Anfield on Sunday.

Also present in the training session was centre-back Joel Matip, who picked up a knock last time out in the win over Newcastle United but does not seem to be suffering from any further issues.

Matip's likely availability comes as an enormous boost to manager Jurgen Klopp, who has lost Ibrahima Konate to injury and Virgil van Dijk to a suspension which could be extended after he was charged for his conduct towards the referee after he was sent off against Newcastle.

Midfield duo Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara were the only two players not seen in training, with the pair still working to recover from their own fitness concerns.

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Liverpool are unbeaten heading into their fourth Game of the Premier League season but will face a tough test against a Villa side who responded to a shock at Newcastle on the opening weekend with emphatic victories over both Everton and Burnley.

"It's a good team [Aston Villa], but we are as well," forward Cody Gakpo told club media. "We have to just be ready and give it our best."

On the impact of being back at Anfield, Gakpo added: "Every time it's amazing. I think the fans are wonderful.

"They are so important to us, like you saw in the last home Game. We were down with one goal and they just were trying to push us to get the equaliser and then eventually we won. It's also because of them [that we won], so we have to give them more wins back."

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