Arne Slot has admitted he will need to make decisions on both Alexis Mac Allister and Joe Gomez for Liverpool’s Premier League opener against Bournemouth.
The Reds get their title defense underway tomorrow as they kick off the 2025/26 campaign at Anfield, although they are set to be without at least a couple of key players.
Conor Bradley missed the recent games against Athletic Club and Crystal Palace, and will be a major doubt for a return against Bournemouth. Ryan Gravenberch, meanwhile, will be missing through suspension after being sent off against Palace on the final day of last season.
Mac Allister and Gomez though could both feature, although what their roles will be is yet to be decided.
The former missed much of the early part of pre-season, having also sat out the end of the previous campaign through injury. He came off the bench at Wembley on Sunday though, playing around 20 minutes as he looks to improve on his fitness in time for the new campaign.
And Slot has hinted there is a chance he could start against Bournemouth, with the Liverpool boss having not yet made his mind up on his line-up.
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“Unfortunately, Macca had a bit of a different pre-season than we would like him to have, but he’s back fit now, so I still have a choice to make in midfield, even if Ryan is not there,” Slot said in his pre-match press conference.
As for Gomez, the defender missed much of pre-season after returning early from the tour of Asia, having picked up an achilles injury.
He was spotted back in training at the AXA Training Centre this week though, raising hopes that he could return to the squad to face Bournemouth.
“Joe, I have to make a decision on that. He only trained twice now, missed quite a lot of pre-season, but if you looked at our bench against Palace, there were three players that were 20 years or younger.
Joe Gomez has returned to Liverpool training
Joe Gomez has returned to Liverpool training
“There is a possibility that Joe might be on the bench, but I have to look at the numbers and who we’re going to take.”
Liverpool.com says: Having Mac Allister back starting would be a huge boost for Liverpool, especially with Gravenberch out suspended.
Having missed quite a lot of pre-season now, Slot will have to be careful with him, and that will make the decision on whether he starts tomorrow very tricky.
As for Gomez, fingers crossed he can avoid any more injuries for a good while now, and actually be available for an extended period.