Salah's Medicine Ball Mayhem: Sherwood Slams Liverpool's Barmy Training as Injuries Hit Slot's Squad

Imagine Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai turning Anfield's training pitch into a heavyweight version of playground 'over the bar'. That's exactly what had fans and pundits in stitches ahead of Liverpool's do-or-die Champions League knockout against Galatasaray. A now-deleted Sky Sports clip captured the duo hurling medicine balls over the crossbar, while the rest of Arne Slot's lads focused on sharper technical drills.

It was all part of the Reds' final session at the AXA Training Centre before jetting off to Istanbul. These explosive power exercises are par for the course in elite football these days, but chucking weighted orbs like frisbees just 24 hours before a massive European night? Even former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood couldn't hide his bewilderment, calling it 'nonsense' on air.

Sherwood's Stunned Take on the 'Nonsense' Drill

Sherwood, never one to mince words, watched the footage and scratched his head live on Sky Sports. "Baffled" doesn't cover it – he reckoned it was daft to risk fatigue or tweaks so close to kick-off. The clip of his rant popped up on socials, only for Sky to yank it faster than a dodgy VAR decision.

Fair play to Liverpool's strength coaches; medicine ball throws build that raw power for sprints and jumps. But seeing a three-time Premier League Golden Boot snag like Salah – worth a king's ransom – and Szoboszlai, the £60m Hungarian powerhouse, playing what looked like giant catch? It's the kind of session that sparks memes and pub debates. 'Are they prepping for a strongman comp or a footy match?' one fan quipped online.

As reported by AFP on Goal.com, the viral moment summed up the quirky side of modern prep. Slot's men were putting in the yards for Istanbul, but this oddity stole the show.

Injury Nightmares Mount for Slot's Reds

If the training antics weren't enough to raise eyebrows, the injury gods piled on. No.1 keeper Alisson Becker felt a niggle post-session and hasn't made the trip – a proper gut-punch. Georgian stopper Giorgi Mamardashvili steps up, hoping to keep a clean sheet in the cauldron of Rams Park.

Federico Chiesa sat out too, nursing whatever's kept him sidelined. Slot's medical crew will be in overdrive to patch Alisson for the weekend Premier League scrap. With a tough run-in, every fit body counts.

Istanbul Rematch and a Fiery Fixture Pile-Up

Liverpool know the score in Turkey – they nicked a 1-0 loss there in the league phase, so revenge is on the menu. Slot's side head into this leg-up-or-go-home tie desperate to flip the script. But the calendar's cruel: Brighton away beckons post-return leg, then a blockbuster Premier League clash with Tottenham.

That Spurs showdown could make or break top-four dreams. Lose Alisson long-term, and the pressure cranks up. Slot's building something special at Anfield, but this week's a proper test of squad depth and nerve.

For now, the medicine ball madness has given us all a chuckle amid the tension. Will Salah channel that explosive energy into goals? Or will Sherwood's words ring true? Grab your scarf, it's going to be a wild one in Istanbul.