Liverpool could have two players return to the squad for Chelsea‘s visit, but Arne Slot will still be without at least six senior options at Anfield.
It is an early kickoff at Anfield, and the match could see the return of Alexander Isak and Giorgi Mamardashvili after respective groin and knee injuries.
The duo are the only potential returnees for the Reds, with Arne Slot explaining Alisson and Mo Salah are still not ready to return.
Liverpool Injury & Absentee List
Player Injury Type Status Expected Return
Alexander Isak Groin Doubt Chelsea (H)
Giorgi Mamardashvili Knee Doubt Chelsea (H)
Mo Salah Hamstring Unavailable Aston Villa (A)
Alisson Hamstring Unavailable Aston Villa (A)
Wataru Endo Ankle Unavailable May
Conor Bradley Knee Unavailable Pre-season
Giovanni Leoni ACL Unavailable Pre-season
Hugo Ekitike Achilles Unavailable 2027
Stefan Bajcetic Hamstring Unavailable Unknown
Jayden Danns Hamstring Unavailable Unknown
Isak missed last week’s trip to Old Trafford with a groin injury and only returned to training on Thursday, meaning a place on the bench is likely the best possible outcome.
“Yesterday (Thursday) he did parts of it (training), so hopefully he can do parts or everything today and then let’s see how much we’re going to use him tomorrow,” Slot said.
As for Mamardashvili, he was due to return to training on Friday for the first time since he required stitches for his wound suffered at Everton.
He has to prove his fitness, but if he does, Freddie Woodman will be restored to the bench.
Florian Wirtz (illness) and Ibrahima Konate (personal), meanwhile, are both expected to be fit and available after missing a training session in midweek.
As for Alisson and Salah, they are “very close” to making a return to training, but Chelsea‘s visit still comes too soon.
Finally, there was a rare update on Conor Bradley, with Slot conceding the right-back may not be available for the start of pre-season due to his serious knee injury.
Liverpool’s available squad vs. Chelsea
Goalkeepers: Mamardashvili*, Woodman, Pecsi, Misciur
Defenders: Van Dijk, Konate, Frimpong, Kerkez, Robertson
Midfielders: Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Jones, Nyoni
Forwards: Wirtz, Isak*, Gakpo, Chiesa, Ngumoha
* Doubt
Chelsea without goalkeeper Robert Sanchez
Following nasty head clashes for Jesse Derry and Robert Sanchez in the defeat against Nottingham Forest, neither player will be available on Saturday.
Filip Jorgensen will, therefore, be in goal for the visitors.
Predicted LFC XI: Woodman; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Frimpong, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Gakpo
Predicted Chelsea XI: Jorgensen; James, Colwill, Chalobah, Cucurella; Santos, Caicedo, Lavia; Fernandez; Pedro, Delap
Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho are also in doubt for Chelsea, but Levi Colwill and Reece James are expected to be in contention to start.
As for Liverpool, if Woodman retains his place, Slot could potentially just make one change from the defeat at Old Trafford, with Milos Kerkez replacing Andy Robertson.