Liverpool set for strong pre-season squad as World Cup casualties prepare for return

June 29, 2018
Jack Lusby

Liverpool have just five players remaining at the World Cup, with Jurgen Klopp set to call upon a strong squad for the first weeks of pre-season.

The Reds are due to return to Melwood on Monday, as Klopp prepares his initial group for a trip to take on Chester at Deva Stadium on July 7.

With the World Cup well underway in Russia, the manager will not be able to include some of his key players, but new signings Naby Keita and Fabinho are both expected to feature in Cheshire.

Klopp is unlikely to make any further additions before the end of the tournament on July 15, so pre-season will provide him with an opportunity to further assess those already on the books.

After four domestic friendlies Liverpool will travel to the United States to take on Borussia Dortmund, Man City and Man United in the International Champions Cup.

And by then he can expect to be missing only Simon Mignolet, Dejan Lovren, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jordan Henderson and Roberto Firmino due to their commitments at the World Cup.

Marko Grujic, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane failed to fire Serbia, Egypt and Senegal to the last 16 respectively, and should be part of Klopp’s travelling squad.

Prior to the tour of the US, key players from last season including Loris Karius, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Gini Wijnaldum and James Milner will all be available alongside Keita and Fabinho.

Danny Ward, Nathaniel Clyne, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Alberto Moreno, Adam Lallana, Dominic Solanke and Divock Origi are among those looking to impress.

Harry Wilson and Ben Woodburn will head a group of youngsters hoping to carve out a role under Klopp in 2018/19, along with Sheyi Ojo, Ryan Kent, Curtis Jones and Rafa Camacho.

Peripheral figures and likely departures should also be part of Klopp’s early squad for pre-season, including Daniel Sturridge, Danny Ings and Lazar Markovic.

After Chester, the Reds visit Tranmere Rovers (July 11), Bury (July 14) and Blackburn Rovers (July 19), with Dortmund (July 22), City (July 26) and United (July 28) to come soon after.

On their return they will take in a short training camp, likely in the south of France, before rounding off pre-season against Napoli (August 4) and Torino (August 7).

Salah and Mane could make their first appearances against Dortmund, but it is perhaps more likely they will feature against City in New Jersey, as they catch up after an extended break.