Liverpool Set to Begin Pre-Season Preparations
Liverpool are set to begin their pre-season preparations this weekend, with Jurgen Klopp’s first-team squad set to return to training at the AXA Training Centre. The Reds will be without a number of their players due to international commitments, with the first set of those players scheduled to return next Tuesday.
The Reds are set to embark on a series of friendlies to regain match sharpness, beginning with a trip to Germany and later Singapore. Klopp typically allows each player a three-week break from the point at which their commitments cease, meaning it could be a while before we see the likes of Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott as both prepare to face Spain in the U21 Euros final on Saturday evening.
Klopp will be without a fair chunk of his squad when pre-season begins, with return dates for his players staggered depending on their summer exploits. Just 10 first-team players are expected to report for the opening day, meaning that 17 will miss the start of preparations for 2023/24.
Who Will Be Available?
Klopp will likely turn to youth in order to make up the numbers, with the likes of Bobby Clark expected to be involved. Ben Doak and Conor Bradley are set to join as part of the second wave along with Liverpool’s other internationals next week.
The players who will be available for the opening day include Adrian, Pitaluga, Phillips, Gomez, Matip, Fabinho, Bajcetic, Morton, Thiago and Nunez. Alisson, Kelleher, Van Dijk, Konate, Tsimikas, Robertson, Trent-Alexander Arnold, Van den Berg, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Henderson, Jones, Elliott, Diaz, Salah, Gakpo and Jota will all be absentees.
Youth Players Set to Feature
Likely youth players who could be involved include Davies, Chambers, Mabaya, Norris, Quansah, Hill, Balagizi, Frauendorf, Clark, Kone-Doherty, Blair and Stewart.
Pre-Season Friendlies
The Reds will face VfB Stuttgart in their first pre-season friendly on August 1st before travelling to Singapore for a series of games against local sides. They will then return to Europe for a clash with Bundesliga side RB Leipzig on August 12th before facing Turkish side Besiktas on August 15th.
The Reds will then travel to Anfield for their final pre-season friendly against Blackpool on August 22nd before beginning their Premier League campaign against Leeds United on September 12th.
Conclusion
Liverpool are set to begin their pre-season preparations this weekend as they look to regain match sharpness ahead of the new season. Klopp will be without a number of his first-team squad due to international commitments but is likely to turn to youth in order to make up the numbers. The Reds will face VfB Stuttgart in their first pre-season friendly on August 1st before travelling to Singapore for a series of games against local sides and then returning to Europe for a clash with RB Leipzig on August 12th. They will then travel to Anfield for their final pre-season friendly against Blackpool on August 22nd before beginning their Premier League campaign against Leeds United on September 12th.