Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is set to be working with just a fraction of his senior squads as the Reds begin their pre-season preparations.
The Merseysiders are due to return to the club’s training base on Friday as they turn their attentions to the 2023/24 Premier League campaign. However, it isn’t exactly a heaving selection at Klopp’s disposal.
It has been confirmed that just eight players will report for action. That includes established first-team stars such as Fabinho, Joe Gomez, Darwin Nunez, Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara. Academy graduate Nathaniel Phillips is among the group despite looking set to leave the club this summer, whilst Stefan Bajcetic has also reported for action.
Back-up goalkeeper Adrian is also among the players to return after penning a new deal at Anfield - his previous deal was set to expire this summer. It is expected that the group will be supplemented by members of the club’s youth squads. Klopp won't have to wait too long for a full complement of players however,
Those who have taken part in international action over the summer will report to the club’s training ground Tuesday July 11. This includes two of the Reds’ summer signings.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister were in action for Hungary and Argentina respectively over the international break and will get the chance to train with their new teammates for the first time next week. Elsewhere, Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones will be given extended breaks at the conclusion of England's Under-21 European Championship campaign - which ends this weekend.
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Liverpool have a comprehensive calendar ahead of them as they aim to prepare for the upcoming season. The Reds have another training camp in Germany, where they will tackle the likes of Karlsruher SC and Greuther Furth in pre-season ties.
They then face a trip to Singapore where Leicester and German giants Bayern Munich await them. Liverpool round-off their pre-season fixture list with a showdown with another German side Darmstadt 98.
That clash will not take place at Anfield, however, and has been scheduled for Preston’s Deepdale. Klopp has already demanded for his players to gather as soon as possible following an underwhelming campaign.
Speaking last term, he said: “It was never a perfect pre-season but that is not the reason for our season now because we had similar pre-seasons before that. But this year must be different. So now we already have four or five weeks without international football.
“Usually you play all the time. We play a lot now but I have no clue where they would have put in the Champions League games [had Liverpool been involved].
“But it’s different and that’s why we have to step up. We have to prepare that in the pre-season and that’s why I want them back together as quick as somehow possible, respecting the necessity of holidays.
“I know that and I respect that and I want them to go on holiday for as long as possible but for this year we have to make sure we are together as soon as possible and can go from there.”
