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Liverpool midfielder Arthur Melo has featured for the first time since September as the Reds’ under-21s dismantled Leicester’s under-21’s 7-1.
Jurgen Klopp’s side suffered a chastening Champions League defeat to Real Madrid on Tuesday, which all but confirmed their exit from Europe’s premier competition.
The reigning champions dismantled the Reds 5-2 at Anfield in the first leg of the last-16 tie, adding to a season of woes for Liverpool.
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Going into tonight’s Premier League match against Crystal Palace, the Reds sit in eighth place, some seven points from a top-four spot, while they are out of both domestic cup competitions.
The Merseyside club’s stuttering performances have partly been down to a series of injuries suffered by a string of players.
One player that has been out for most of the campaign is Juventus loanee Arthur. The midfielder joined in the summer on deadline day, for a loan fee of around £3million.
However, the Brazil international has managed just 13 minutes of first-team football since arriving at Anfield after sustaining a thigh injury at the start of October.
Arthur makes injury return
Arthur played the full 90 minutes at Kirkby as Liverpool’s under-21’s battered Leicester’s under-21 side.
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For the third time this season and the first time since September, Arthur utilised age-group football to get back up to speed, having finally recovered from injury.
The Brazilian has been training with the first team since February 9, and this was his first matchday experience at any level since October.
The 26-year-old was not the only player to make a long-awaited return from injury in the game, with goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga, starting between the sticks after three months out.
Notably, Ben Doak, who is perhaps the pick of Liverpool’s academy, had a hand in five of the goals against Leicester, netting a brace and claiming three assists.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Football, Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, Leicester City, Injury