Liverpool will again mix experience with youth when they meet Bradford City in their second pre-season game on Sunday, but one youngster has been dealt a cruel blow.
The Reds’ second outing of the summer sees them make the journey to Valley Parade where Bradford City lie in wait.
The first of seven scheduled pre-season fixtures saw Jurgen Klopp‘s side get off to a thrilling start having piled on six unanswered goals against Tranmere Rovers on Thursday as youth took centre stage.
The teenage trio of Rhian Brewster, Curtis Jones and Bobby Duncan all found themselves on the scoresheet and will again be in contention as Klopp is likely to continue his approach of fielding two different starting XI’s in each half.
Althgouh Virgil van Dijk, Jordan Henderson, Gini Wijnaldum and Trent Alexander-Arnold all returned to training on Saturday they are not expected to take any part in proceedings.
Alisson, Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Kamil Grabara are similarly unavailable as they continue to enjoy their off-season, while Sadio Mane is still competing at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Liverpool will also be without the injured quartet of Naby Keita, Xherdan Shaqiri, Caoimhin Kelleher and Andy Robertson, ensuring the squad will again be largely be made up of the club’s brightest young talent.
Left-back duo Yasser Larouci and Adam Lewis are likely to be handed another chance to shine after impressing at Prenton Park, alongside fellow defenders Nat Phillips and Ki-Jana Hoever.
With Divock Origi the sole senior option in the final third, Harry Wilson and Ryan Kent will also be presented with a further chance to shine and prove their worth.
Paul Glatzel, one of the stars of Liverpool’s under-18s last term, would have also been in contention but a knee injury sustained late on against Tranmere has ruled him out for the foreseeable future.
Liverpool are currently awaiting the results of a scan to determine the extent of the damage, but Klopp has revealed he is “seriously injured” but will “be one of my boys” when he returns to full fitness.
It comes as a cruel blow for the youngster as the Reds’ depleted attacking ranks left the door open for him to impress.
Meanwhile, summer signing Sepp Van den Berg is also unlikely to feature having missed the opening pre-season game having failed to receive international clearance.
Regular members of the first team which includes the likes of James Milner, Joe Gomez, Fabinho, Joel Matip and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will all take part, while Dejan Lovren could also make his first appearance of the summer.
Likely Liverpool Squad vs. Bradford
Goalkeepers: Mignolet, Jaros, Atherton
Defenders: Gomez, Matip, Lovren, Phillips, Hoever, Johnston Lewis, Larouci, Clyne
Midfielders: Milner, Fabinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lallana, Woodburn, Jones
Forwards: Origi, Brewster, Duncan, Wilson, Kent
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