[Liverpool](https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/) kicked off their preseason slate of fixtures with an away match to Preston North End on Sunday. While preseason lineups are usually a mixed bag of first team regulars, reserves, and youth players, the squad for Preston was missing quite a few big names. Club captain Virgil van Dijk, major signing Florian Wirtz, and first team regulars like Alisson Becker, Alexis Mac Allister, Luis Diaz, and Ibrahima Konaté were all left out of the matchday squad.
According to reporter Ian Doyle, all of the players have begun individual training plans this past week but are not yet in full team training. With the death of Diogo Jota a week and a half ago, the planned start to preseason was pushed back, and initial training has understandably been disjointed. Doyle says the club are taking no risks with players as they begin to build fitness ahead of their preseason trip to Asia.
Only one player was left out due to injury. Midfielder Stefan Bajcetic is still recovering from a hamstring surgery that was performed at the end of May. The oft-injured Spaniard and the club felt that surgery would provide the best long-term option, however it means Bajcetic will likely be out for several months as he recovers.