Liverpool confirm 22-man squad to train at Melwood on 1st day of pre-season

July 4, 2017
Jack Lusby

Liverpool have confirmed the 22 players who will be involved in Jurgen Klopp‘s first pre-season training at Melwood on Wednesday.

The Reds will begin their summer preparations on July 5, a week before their opening friendly fixture away to Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park.

Klopp has provided his international players an extended break in order to avoid physical issues prior to the 2017/18 campaign, leaving him with a smaller squad for Wednesday’s session.

Loris Karius will serve as leading goalkeeper, with Adam Bogdan, who spent last season on loan with Wigan Athletic, and Polish youngster Kamil Grabara also available.

Joel Matip, Joe Gomez and, making a surprise appearance, Mamadou Sakho will make up Klopp’s centre-back contingent.

At full-back, the German will be able to call upon Nathaniel Clyne, James Milner, Alberto Moreno, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jon Flanagan and Connor Randall.

Captain Jordan Henderson will rejoin the squad for the first time since the end of February, to be supported by fellow midfielders Lucas Leiva, Kevin Stewart and Pedro Chirivella.

Sadio Mane is also back following a long-term knee injury, with Lazar Markovic and Ryan Kent reporting for duty, too.

Roberto Firmino has returned from a lengthy break in Brazil, while both Daniel Sturridge and Danny Ings will also be at Melwood for the start of pre-season.

The Reds are unlikely to undergo any rigorous exercises on Wednesday, with fitness tests on the cards after the summer.

New signing Dominic Solanke won’t take part, despite being pictured at Melwood on Tuesday, with his fellow England U20s team-mates Ovie Ejaria and Sheyi Ojo among those to also miss out.

Academy striker Rhian Brewster won’t be able to take part after breaking a bone in his foot, while Cameron Brannagan trained with the Reds’ U23s squad on Tuesday, instead.

The rest of Klopp’s squad will return in stages over the course of the summer, with Emre Can expected to be the last to report back.