James Milner was back in Liverpool first-team training on Tuesday afternoon ahead of their trip to Burnley this weekend.

The midfielder was absent from the squad for the Reds' thrilling opening win over Arsenal on Sunday afternoon with an ankle injury sustained in the pre-season win over Barcelona the weekend prior.

With Milner having taken on a left-back role in pre-season, Alberto Moreno produced an erratic performance in his absence - conceding a penalty and being caught out of position for the Gunners' first goal.

But just 48 hours on from their thrilling Premier League opener, Milner joined his teammates at Melwood with Jürgen Klopp and his backroom staff overseeing a full-paced session after using Monday as a recovery day. 

Milner in the frame to play left-back against Burnley

Milner with teammates Joel Matip and Jordan Henderson at Melwood. (Picture: Getty Images)
Milner with teammates Joel Matip and Jordan Henderson at Melwood. (Picture: Getty Images)

Milner is expected to come into the starting line-up for the trip to Turf Moor on Saturday, replacing Moreno at left-back, provided he is fully fit.

Only Mamadou Sakho, Joe Gomez, Sheyi Ojo and Lucas Leiva were absent from the squad with Daniel Sturridge - who returned to training on Friday from a slight hip injury - doing fitness work as well as practice with the ball.

Danny Ings was also involved, having missed out on the matchday 18 for the clash with Arsenal to feature for the Reds' Under-23s, whom he scored for in their 4-1 defeat to Southampton.

Also with the senior squad was versatile teenager Trent Alexander-Arnold, capable of playing in central midfield and at right-back, who was on the bench at Arsenal but is yet to make his competitive debut.

Cameron Brannagan was also involved, having been expected to complete a season-long loan move to Wigan Athletic earlier this move. But although a deal was agreed between the two clubs, the teenager has yet to seal the temporary switch to the League One side.

Young Polish goalkeeper Kamil Grabara, who joined from Ruch Chorzow in a £250,000 deal in January, joined Loris Karius, Alex Manninger and Simon Mignolet among the goalkeepers training under 'keeper coach John Achterberg.

Benteke involved while Sturridge continues comeback

Christian Benteke, who appears increasingly likely to move on in the next few weeks, was also in the contingent that trained at a sun-soaked Melwood hours after the news of an official bid from Crystal Palace was turned down.

Sturridge and Wijnaldum in training on Tuesday afternoon. (Picture: Getty Images)
Sturridge and Wijnaldum in training on Tuesday afternoon. (Picture: Getty Images)

Benteke is said to be keen on a move to Palace, who offered £23 million up-front for the out-of-favour Belgian with a further £7 million in add-ons over the next four years.

The additional instalments reportedly included an added £2.5 million which would need Palace to qualify for the Champions League, with Benteke playing in 70 per-cent of their game and scoring a minimum of 20 goals to be activated.

Liverpool unsurprisingly deemed the add-ons unrealistic and will ask for at least a guaranteed £30 million from Palace, who have funds available after they sold Yannick Bolasie to Everton for £25 million earlier in the week.

A deal is still likely to go ahead before the closure of the transfer market, although it may require either a restructuring of Palace's payment package or a compromise from Liverpool.

West Bromwich Albion have also shown an interest in Benteke, who doesn't want to move to the Baggies, while Everton and Sunderland are among the other clubs reportedly interested.

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About the author
Charlie Malam
Digital Sports Writer at the Daily Express. First-class Staffordshire University Sports Journalism graduate. Formerly VAVEL UK's Liverpool FC editor and Deputy Editor-in-Chief. Contributor since June 2014.