Liverpool have been handed a major injury boost ahead of their clash against Chelsea on Friday night (16 September) after Dejan Lovren returned to training on Tuesday. The defender missed the Reds' 4-1 win over Leicester City with an eye injury picked up during training.

The Liverpool Echo report showed pictures of the defender back in training with the rest of the first team squad, which will be a major boost for Jurgen Klopp ahead of their trip to Stamford Bridge on Friday night.

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Lovren is likely to return straight back into the starting XI and take his place alongside Joel Matip after missing the clash against the Foxes with a swollen eye. The Croatia international had played in all the games prior to his injury and will be key when the Reds take on Antonio Conte's side on Friday, who will be led by in-form Diego Costa.

Mamadou Sakho was also part of the first-team training session on Tuesday as the defender continues his bid to get fit and contend for a place in the first-team. The Frenchman has not played for Liverpool since April following his suspension for allegedly failing a drug test.

He has since been cleared of any wrongdoing and returned to training with the Merseyside club during pre-season. Sakho has fallen out of favour after he was sent back from the Reds pre-season tour of the United States due to disciplinary issues and is now fourth choice behind Lovren, Matip and Ragnar Klavan for a place in the heart of the defence.

Dejan Lovren
Dejan Lovren returns to training ahead of Liverpool's clash against Chelsea Getty

Emre Can is also likely to be available for selection after he returned to training after recovering from an ankle injury that saw him miss Liverpool's last two Premier League matches against Tottenham and Leicester. The midfielder picked up the injury during the League Cup clash against Burton Albion prior to the international break.

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