Liverpool are aiming to re-open training ground Melwood in mid-May (Echo)

Liverpool are aiming to re-open Melwood in mid-May, should the government opt against extending the lockdown restrictions.

But the club will continue to abide by the latest rules before Jurgen Klopp and his squad return to action at their training base.

The Reds opted to voluntarily close their West Derby site back on Friday March 13 in an effort to minimise the spread of the coronavirus.

Ten days later, Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed strict lockdown measures across the UK to help combat COVID-19, with foreign secretary Dominic Raab confirming that those plans would be extended by a minimum of three weeks back on April 16.

Should those restrictions not be furthered once more, then it would theoretically free Liverpool up to head back to Melwood in the second week of May.

A re-opening of Melwood would begin the countdown for the club's final months in their iconic training ground with Liverpool set to move to an all-new £50million base in Kirkby later this year.

However, there is a widespread acceptance that those measures could easily be extended as the nation aims to further reduce the spread of a virus that has claimed the lives of over 16,000 people.

The ECHO understands Liverpool's staff have been told they can tentatively return to training in mid-May as Klopp and his players aim to step up their fitness work ahead of the Premier League's eventual resumption.

The club will continue to be guided by the latest advice and instruction, though, and will only resume training as a group once such restrictions are lifted.

Speaking last week, midfielder Pedro Chirivella said: “We have been told that until mid-May we will train separately. Then three or four weeks training with the group and if we can, we could play in June.”

Liverpool had initially permitted injured players to make use of their Melwood facilities after suspending activity in mid-March with Alisson Becker, Xherdan Shaqiri, Yasser Larouci and Nathaniel Clyne working with a small team of coaches during staggered sessions.

However, all players have been working from home since Monday March 23, with the club holding workouts as a squad over Zoom meetings online.

Players have also been given their individual training regimes to adhere to during their enforced absence from Melwood and coaching staff are aiming to step up that work this week.

Members of Klopp's team will be given individual challenges with footballs in an effort to ensure players aren't too rusty for when Melwood opens its doors again.

It is believed the mood in the camp, despite the unprecedented nature of the circumstances and the uncertainty over the Premier League's return, has been healthy and upbeat.

Despite their aims of winning a Premier League title being currently on pause, morale is high in the squad with recordings from the players' Zoom sessions getting a hugely positive response from fans across social media.

Liverpool need just six points from their final nine Premier League games to be crowned champions of England for the first time since 1990.