Joe Gomez is back in training following an Achilles injury, but Arne Slot is yet to decide whether the defender will be part of his squad to play Bournemouth.
Liverpool host Bournemouth in the opening game of the Premier League on Friday night and were boosted in the buildup by the return of their No. 2.
Gomez was back in training on Wednesday after missing two-and-a-half weeks due to an Achilles issue, working as part of a 25-man group at the AXA Training Centre.
That could see him rejoin the squad for the 8pm kickoff at Anfield, but speaking on Thursday, Slot explained that it would depend on who else is available.
“Joe, I have to make a decision on that,” the head coach told reporters in his pre-match press conference.
“I think he only trained twice now, missed quite a lot in pre-season.
“But if you looked at our bench against Palace I think there were three players who were 19 years old or younger.
“So 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.”
As Slot noted, Liverpool’s bench for the Community Shield was light on experience, not only due to injury but with Kostas Tsimikas left out as transfer interest grows and Ryan Gravenberch absent due to the birth of his daughter.
That in part meant the trio of Ben Doak, 19, Trey Nyoni, 18, and Rio Ngumoha, 16, were named in the squad against Crystal Palace.
It is likely that, with Gravenberch suspended, Conor Bradley still out and James McConnell only recently back from injury himself, Gomez could take a place on the bench if Tsimikas is again left out.
But no risks will be taken with the 28-year-old, particularly given his difficult history of injuries.
There is even a chance that £26 million signing Giovanni Leoni is included straight after completing his move from Parma, with the teenager undergoing a medical on Thursday.
Liverpool squad in training on Wednesday
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 10, 2025: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk during the pre-match warm-up before the FA Community Shield match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Wembley Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Mamardashvili, Woodman
Defenders: Van Dijk, Konate, Gomez, Frimpong, Kerkez, Robertson, Tsimikas
Midfielders: Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch*, Jones, Endo, Elliott, Nyoni, McConnell
Forwards: Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike, Chiesa, Doak, Ngumoha
* Suspended vs. Bournemouth