Conor Bradley is not expected to be fit for Liverpool’s clash with Crystal Palace in the Community Shield on Sunday, having not yet returned to training.
Bradley was absent from the friendlies against Athletic Club at Anfield on Monday evening, with Arne Slot ruling him doubtful for the Community Shield.
His absence for the 3pm kickoff at Wembley has effectively been confirmed, with the Northern Irishman not part of a 25-man squad working at the AXA Training Centre in the buildup.
That means Jeremie Frimpong will start at right-back on Sunday, with Joe Gomez also sidelined with an Achilles injury.
The specific nature of Bradley’s injury is as yet unknown, but it comes with unfortunate timing as Liverpool prepare for the start of the season.
HONG KONG - Thursday, July 24, 2025: Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker during a training session at the Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong ahead of the Hong Kong Football Festival 2025 pre-season tournament, on Day Four of the club's Asia Tour. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Darwin Nunez has left the squad to undergo a medical at Al-Hilal while Liverpool are also without Stefan Bajcetic, but Alisson and Virgil van Dijk are back with the squad having missed the games against Athletic Club.
Alisson could take over from Giorgi Mamardashvili in goal at the weekend having returned from Brazil following his wife’s surgery, while Van Dijk will start after recovering from illness.
It was notable that Slot stuck with his usual senior squad – bolstered by the promotion of Rio Ngumoha, Trey Nyoni and, as it stands, Ben Doak and Luca Stephenson to full-time members – with little in terms of other academy presence.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, August 4, 2025: Liverpool's Jayden Danns during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Athletic Bilbao at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Jayden Danns is among those working with the U21s instead and the striker could consider a loan move along with the likes of James McConnell, Lewis Koumas and Amara Nallo.
Slot is working with a strong group despite the absence of two of his defensive options and he could face tough decisions over who starts against Palace.
Andy Robertson will be vying for a starting spot at left-back, though Milos Kerkez is the favourite for the position, while there is serious competition in midfield.
The likely starting trio in the middle park on Sunday is Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz, with Slot updating on Alexis Mac Allister‘s fitness in his pre-match press conference.
“He will be in the squad,” he head coach told reporters on Friday.
“He was out for two months I think, or longer because we didn’t play him in the last four games of the season.
“He trained with us a week now, played 30 minutes, 45 minutes, so that’s not a situation where you would play a player for 90 minutes.
“Starting is possible but definitely not for 90 minutes.”
Liverpool squad training for the Community Shield
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, August 4, 2025: Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike (L) and Ibrahima Konaté applaud the supporters after a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Athletic Bilbao at Anfield. Liverpool won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Mamardashvili, Woodman, Pecsi
Defenders: Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Frimpong, Robertson, Tsimikas, Stephenson
Midfielders: Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Jones, Gravenberch, Endo, Elliott, Nyoni
Forwards: Salah, Gakpo, Wirtz, Ekitike, Chiesa, Doak, Ngumoha