Liverpool and Nottingham Forest are both set to be without a number of players for their Premier League opener at Anfield on Saturday, with Federico Chiesa and Joe Gomez among those missing for the hosts
Andoni Iraola and Oliver Glasner
Andoni Iraola and Oliver Glasner (Image: Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth, AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
Nottingham Forest key man Morgan Gibbs-White is set to feature against Liverpool, however Ibrahim Sangare has been ruled out through a calf injury.
Oliver Glasner's outfit travel to Anfield having already encountered fitness issues in the opening week of the campaign, while Liverpool contend primarily with long-term absentees after the draw with Newcastle.
A knee complaint kept Gibbs-White sidelined during their Carabao Cup second round defeat to Leeds United, but Forest boss Glasner provided an encouraging update on both him and Ryan Yates. Speaking on Friday, he confirmed: "Morgan is available, and Ryan Yates is available, which is good news."
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Forest will nevertheless be short-handed in midfield, with their Austrian head coach disclosing that Sangare, who remained an unused substitute earlier in the week, will play no part in the matchday squad.
Glasner confirmed: "Ibrahim has picked up a minor calf injury in Wednesday's training session and will miss tomorrow's game."
Neco Williams was substituted against Leeds following a head injury but is anticipated to be fit, while Nicolo Savona remains some distance from a return after suffering a setback in his rehabilitation from a knee problem.
Liverpool are expected to be without roughly twice as many players, though the vast majority of those absences are well-documented and are unlikely to be resolved for several months to come. Federico Chiesa and Joe Gomez are the two players who could make their comebacks in the near future following pre-season injuries.
Andoni Iraola provided an update on the Italian during his Thursday media briefing.
Federico Chiesa remains out
Federico Chiesa remains out
The Liverpool boss said: "Fede is not available. In the [pre-season] game against Como, he felt something at the back - it's a small muscle injury. He is not available."
Gomez, meanwhile, has been sidelined with a knee problem sustained in late July, with Iraola acknowledging at the time it would be "impossible" for him to feature at the campaign's outset. Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni remain the club's long-term casualties, with no fresh Iraola update since July.
He has, though, recently addressed fitness questions regarding Jeremy Jacquet and Alexander Isak in recent weeks, with both having been absent for significant spells of last campaign.
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Nevertheless, the pair are both anticipated to feature in the starting XI on Saturday alongside Cody Gakpo, despite ongoing speculation about his future. With Liverpool now poised to secure Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain, the Netherlands international could depart in the transfer window's closing stages amid reported interest from Tottenham and Manchester City.