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Crystal Palace has been dealt a significant injury setback ahead of this weekend's Community Shield match against Liverpool at Wembley Stadium.
The Premier League victors will face off against the FA Cup winners on Sunday in what marks the first competitive game of the new season for both teams, before the Premier League begins. The Reds last graced the season opener in 2022, when they triumphed over Manchester City 3-1 at the King Power Stadium.
Liverpool has had a fruitful pre-season, notching up victories against Preston North End, Stoke City, Yokohama FM, and consecutive wins over Athletic Club at Anfield earlier this week. The game comes amid Liverpool's continued interest in Palace defender Marc Guehi.
The sole defeat was handed to the Reds by AC Milan during the initial leg of their tour in Hong Kong at the end of the previous month.
On the other hand, Palace have claimed three victories in their pre-season friendlies, suffering a loss in their most recent match against Augsburg last Friday.
This game also saw an injury blow, with Eddie Nketiah ruled out of Sunday's showdown with Liverpool in London.
As reported by the BBC, the forward is anticipated to be out of action for approximately six weeks due to a hamstring injury incurred just 28 minutes into the second match of their double-header against Augsburg.
Nketiah will also be absent from the Eagles' Premier League opener against Chelsea a week following the Community Shield.
Liverpool, meanwhile, has its own injury worries, with Joe Gomez missing the second leg of the Reds' Far East tour. The defender returned to England prematurely owing to an Achilles problem, which also sidelined him for both matches against Athletic Club.
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Right-back Conor Bradley was also missing for those two matches, while Virgil van Dijk was out due to illness. Goalkeeper Alisson Becker was another early exit from the tour, having flown home for personal reasons.
Speaking ahead of the games with Athletic Club, Arne Slot addressed the absences. He said: "Unfortunately, Virgil is sick today. We miss out on Alisson. Joe Gomez is not there, Conor Bradley is not there.
"But until now we have stayed fit as we wanted to be and new signings came in so they got adjusted to what we want. Looking forward first of all to today and then to the next weeks."
Asked if the quarter were doubts for the Wembley game, Slot said: "Virgil normally not. Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley, it’s going to be tight. Alisson will be back in time as well."
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