Philippe Coutinho is a major doubt for Liverpool’s Premier League opener at Watford after he once again missed training.
The Brazil international, whose future is the subject of intense speculation, has been undergoing treatment on a back issue at Melwood since Liverpool returned from a fitness camp in Germany last Thursday.
Coutinho missed the final warm-up fixture against Athletic Bilbao in Dublin on Saturday as a precaution but he has not made the anticipated progress and there is a question on whether he will be available at Vicarage Road.
Barcelona are desperate to sign the midfielder and they will be watching developments, particularly as Liverpool immediately head into a Champions League qualifier against Hoffenheim after Watford.