Federico Chiesa was notably absent as Liverpool worked at the AXA Training Centre on Wednesday, days ahead of the Premier League opener at Newcastle.
Chiesa played 45 minutes in the behind-closed-doors stalemate against Como, but was not pictured as part of a 25-man squad training three days later.
The Italian is considered available for the right price this summer however there is no indication at this stage that his absence is tied to a transfer.
But it casts doubt over his involvement against Newcastle on Sunday, with Andoni Iraola and his staff finalising their preparations for the new campaign.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 16, 2026: Liverpool's Jeremy Jacquet heads the ball during the pre-match warm-up before a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Como 1907 at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 16, 2026: Liverpool's Jeremy Jacquet heads the ball during the pre-match warm-up before a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Como 1907 at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Jeremy Jacquet, Ronald Araujo and Alexis Mac Allister all trained as normal after making their first appearances of pre-season in the double-header against Como.
They were joined by Curtis Jones, who remained with the squad as talks continue over an expected £30 million move to Inter Milan.
Four academy players are still involved, too, with Iraola yet to make a final decision on the futures of Lewis Koumas, James McConnell, Luke Chambers and Calvin Ramsay.
CHICAGO, USA - Friday, July 31, 2026: Liverpool's Lewis Koumas during an open training session at the Endeavor Health Performance Center ahead of their final pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field in Chicago. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
CHICAGO, USA - Friday, July 31, 2026: Liverpool's Lewis Koumas during an open training session at the Endeavor Health Performance Center ahead of their final pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field in Chicago. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
While Ramsay is likely to at least depart on loan, as he would otherwise take up a non-homegrown spot in the Premier League squad, there is an argument for Liverpool to keep the other three.
There were no new faces in the squad, with the majority of the youngsters who took part in the tour of the United States since rejoining the youth ranks.
Who else is missing for Liverpool?
CHICAGO, USA - Monday, July 20, 2026: Liverpool's Giovanni Leoni arrives in Chicago ahead of the start of the club's pre-season tour of America. The team play friendly games in Nashville, New York and Chicago as they prepare for the start of the new 2026/27 Premier League season. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
CHICAGO, USA - Monday, July 20, 2026: Liverpool's Giovanni Leoni arrives in Chicago ahead of the start of the club's pre-season tour of America. The team play friendly games in Nashville, New York and Chicago as they prepare for the start of the new 2026/27 Premier League season. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
As for those still on the sidelines, Giovanni Leoni and Joe Gomez are yet to be cleared to rejoin training, while Vitezslav Jaros, Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Jayden Danns are long-term absentees.
Stefan Bajcetic suffered a setback earlier in the month and has been working separately from the group – while interest in a transfer, chiefly from Spanish side Getafe, grows.
One player who is already heading to LaLiga is Ifeanyi Ndukwe, who is set to join Levante on a season-long loan and as such is not part of first-team training with Liverpool.
Liverpool Squad Training For Newcastle
CHICAGO, USA - Friday, July 31, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola during an open training session at the Endeavor Health Performance Center ahead of their final pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field in Chicago. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
CHICAGO, USA - Friday, July 31, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola during an open training session at the Endeavor Health Performance Center ahead of their final pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field in Chicago. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Mamardashvili, Woodman
Defenders: Van Dijk, Jacquet, Araujo, Kerkez, Frimpong, Tsimikas, Ramsay, Chambers
Midfielders: Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones, Nyoni, Endo, Elliott, McConnell
Forwards: Isak, Wirtz, Gakpo, Ngumoha, Munoz, Koumas
Absent: Jaros, Leoni, Gomez, Ndukwe, Bradley, Bajcetic, Chiesa, Danns
Despite the absences and a lot of work still to be done in the transfer market, Iraola will be able to name a strong starting lineup against Newcastle.
The big debate will be around who partners Virgil van Dijk at the heart of defence, with both Jacquet and Araujo making a strong case at the weekend.
Jacquet could be seen as the front-runner having produced an outstanding first-half performance against Como, but that was his first appearance of any kind since February and he was only afforded 45 minutes on the pitch.
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Football – Pre-Season – Liverpool FC v Leeds United FC
CHICAGO, USA - Sunday, August 2, 2026: Liverpool's Calvin Ramsay during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field. Leeds won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)