3 hours ago
54
Liverpool could have four players missing for the Premier League opener against Bournemouth, depending on some of Arne Slot’s decisions.
The Reds get their title defense underway at Anfield on Friday, when they will be looking to bounce back from the disappointment of missing out on the first piece of silverware this season, having lost on penalties to Crystal Palace in the Community Shield.
They will be expected to challenge once again for the top prize in English soccer, along with Arsenal and Manchester City, with some making Liverpool the favorite ahead of the start of the new campaign after a busy summer in the transfer market.
Already, the likes of Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez have been signed, and all four will be eyeing up a first league start for their new club.
They look set to be joined by Parma defender Giovanni Leoni soon, although the 18-year-old will be ineligible for Friday's game.
Slot should have most of his big names available on Friday, although he could be without a few players - a couple through his own decisions, with another two forced out.
Conor Bradley looks as though he could be missing through injury, having missed the recent games against Athletic Club and Palace. He’ll be joined on the sidelines by Ryan Gravenberch, even though the midfielder is fully fit.
Gravenberch is serving a suspension after being sent off in the final game of last season against Palace. Although he was available for the Community Shield - which he missed after his partner gave birth - the ban is still in place in the league, although it is just for the one game.
Elsewhere, Slot has suggested Joe Gomez could return to the squad after returning to training this week.
The defender has been out since leaving the tour of Asia early with an Achilles problem, although his boss is yet to make a decision on whether he will be involved against Bournemouth.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
“Joe, I have to make a decision on that,” Slot said in his pre-match press conference. “He only trained twice now, missed quite a lot of pre-season, but if you looked at our bench against Palace, there were three players that were 20 years or younger.
“There is a possibility that Joe might be on the bench, but I have to look at the numbers and who we’re going to take.”
Finally, Kostas Tsimikas may miss out again as interest grows in a potential transfer for the left-back. He was left at home for the Community Shield, with Nottingham Forest and Leeds United among those to have been linked with his services.
English (US) ·