Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker were both spotted at the AXA Training Centre on Thursday after missing Liverpool's clashes with Athletic Bilbao
Virgil van Dijk is missing Liverpool's pre-season games against Athletic Club Bilbao due to illness
Virgil van Dijk is missing Liverpool's pre-season games against Athletic Club Bilbao due to illness
(Image: Getty)
Liverpool have been handed a potential double boost ahead of the Community Shield against Crystal Palace after Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker were both pictured back at the AXA Training Centre on Thursday. The pair had sat out the Reds’ pre-season friendlies against Athletic Bilbao on Monday night.
Arne Slot confirmed the Liverpool captain had missed the two clashes through illness. Meanwhile, the Brazilian was absent after flying home early from the Reds’ pre-season tour of the Far East to deal with a personal matter.
It later emerged that he had returned to Brazil to support his wife, Natalia, who had undergone an operation. Speaking ahead of facing Bilbao, Slot revealed that he was hopeful that both Van Dijk and Alisson would be available for Sunday’s trip to Wembley.
“Unfortunately, Virgil is sick today. We miss out on Alisson,” he told LFC TV. “Joe Gomez is not there, Conor Bradley is not there.
“But until now we have stayed fit as we wanted to be and new signings came in so they got adjusted to what we want. Looking forward first of all to today and then to the next weeks.
“Virgil (is) normally not (at risk of missing the Community Shield). Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley, it’s going to be tight. Alisson will be back in time as well.”
Slot has now seemingly been proven right after the pair were both spotted back at the AXA Training Centre ahead of Sunday’s game.
While Van Dijk and Alisson are now in contention to face Crystal Palace, Slot will offer a further injury update on Gomez and Bradley when he sits down for his pre-match press conference on Friday morning.
Elsewhere, Trey Nyoni took part in a warm down session on Tuesday as normal despite limping off against Bilbao, but Stefan Bajcetic remains sidelined after undergoing surgery on his hamstring earlier this summer.
Liverpool will be without Darwin Nunez for the trip to Wembley after the Reds agreed a £46.3m deal to sell the striker to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.