Liverpool's line-up for the first pre-season friendly against Preston North End on Sunday has seen Florian Wirtz miss out on Arne Slot's squad
15:24, 13 Jul 2025
Florian Wirtz
Florian Wirtz missed out on a spot against Preston(Image: Getty Images)
Florian Wirtz was a notable absentee as Liverpool kicked off their pre-season on Sunday.
Wirtz, who made a record-breaking £116million switch from Bayer Leverkusen, was among several players given a miss, including captain Virgil van Dijk, defender Ibrahima Konate, midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and winger Luis Diaz.
Giorgi Mamardashvili is donning the Liverpool kit for the first time in today's pre-season friendly against Preston North End. Mamardashvili is the sole summer signing starting the match at Deepdale, marking the Reds' first game since the devastating loss of Diogo Jota last week.
Other new recruits Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, along with keepers Freddie Woodman and Armin Pesci, will be warming the bench.
Several senior Liverpool players not featuring today have been clocking in individual training sessions back at Kirkby instead. Given the upheaval in the Reds' pre-season schedule, they're playing it safe when it comes to player fitness, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Florian Wirtz is unveiled as a Liverpool player after his signing at AXA Training Centre on June 20, 2025 in Kirkby, England
Florian Wirtz signed on the dotted line earlier this summer(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Mohamed Salah is the standout name on the Deepdale pitch, with Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai holding down the midfield.
Conor Bradey takes up right-back and Kostas Tsimikas left-back, while Joe Gomez is expected to pair up with young gun Luca Stephenson in central defence.
Federico Chiesa spearheads the attack, flanked by youngsters Rio Ngumoha on the left wing and Trey Nyoni slotting in as No.10.
Stefan Bajcetic is sidelined due to injury, while both Harvey Elliott and Tyler Morton are taking a well-deserved rest after aiding England in holding onto the UEFA European Under-21 Championships.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Bradley, Gomez, Stephenson, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nyoni, Ngumoha; Chiesa.
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Subs: Woodman, Pecsi, Endo, Nunez, Jones, Gakpo, Robertson, Doak, Kerkez, Frimpong, Nallo, Koumas, Morrison, Pilling.