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Lazar Markovic has been demoted to train with Liverpool Under-23s at the Academy.

While most of the Reds' non international players were granted last week off, the Serbian winger worked with Neil Critchley's squad in Kirkby and was involved in a behind closed doors friendly against Crewe Alexandra.

Markovic was expected to leave Liverpool last month but a £2.9million deadline day move to Anderlecht collapsed after he failed to agree personal terms. The 24-year-old, who flew out to Belgium for talks, later claimed “money was not the issue”.

With Markovic out of contract next summer and not named in either the club's Premier League or Champions League squads, his Anfield career is effectively over. It remains to be seen whether he will continue to train at Kirkby rather than Melwood until the January window opens.

One man who was impressed by Markovic was Crewe boss David Artell.

“Without a game at the weekend we used the time to take them to Liverpool on Friday," he said.

"They trained with Critch’s under-23s and played a game behind closed doors. They had Markovic with them and he was a class above. It was a great experience and the players can really see the benefit of it.”

Markovic, who cost Liverpool £20million from Benfica in the summer of 2014, scored three goals in 34 appearances under Brendan Rodgers in 2014/15 but hasn't featured since the win over QPR in May 2015.

He has since had loan spells at Fenerbache, Sporting Lisbon, Hull City and Anderlecht.