When Liverpool signed Lazar Markovic in July 2014, they thought they were getting a future superstar.The then-20-year-old arrived for £20 million on the back of helping Benfica win the Portuguese title.The Serb was supposed to have a long and successful career at Anfield.Well, Markovic may well fulfil the ‘long’ part.Four years later, the winger is still at the club.As for the ‘successful’ part, well, the less said about that the better.Markovic played 34 times for the Reds during the 2014/15 season but managed just three goals.He’s since been out on loan to Fenerbahce, Sporting Lisbon, Hull and Anderlecht with Jurgen Klopp refusing to give him an opportunity in his side.And Markovic’s nightmare at Liverpool looked set to end this summer with a £2.9 million permanent move to Anderlecht.However, in the last minutes of the transfer window, the move fell through after Markovic failed to agree personal terms.The 24-year-old later insisted that “money was not the issue”.

Now, Markovic will have to stay at Liverpool until at least January.

And during this international break, it seems his Liverpool career took yet another blow.

According to the Liverpool Echo, while other non-internationals at the club were given the week off, Markovic was made to train for the club’s Under-23’s at the Academy.

Markovic was demoted from the first-team’s facilities at Melwood for the academy facilities at Kirkby and even played in a behind-closed-doors friendly for Neil Critchley's squad against Crewe.

Another sign that Markovic has no chance of convincing Klopp to give him a chance in the first-team.

While Klopp may not be impressed with Markovic, Crewe manager David Artell was.

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

Whether Markovic’s spell at Kirkby is a temporary one or a permanent one is unknown…