Arne Slot worked with a 26-man squad ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Newcastle, with the head coach facing a decision over which players to leave out.
Of those 26 players working at the AXA Training Centre on Thursday, it is already known that bar any late issues goalkeepers Freddie Woodman and Armin Pecsi will not be in the matchday squad.
The same applies to Conor Bradley, who warmed up with the first team before training separately with head of physical performance Conall Murtagh as he works his way back from injury.
That means Slot still must decide which three players to cut from the remaining group to form his 20-man squad to face Newcastle.
It comes with Jeremie Frimpong not involved in training having picked up a hamstring, but with new centre-back Giovanni Leoni available along with Ryan Gravenberch following the midfielder’s suspension.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, August 4, 2025: Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Athletic Bilbao at Anfield. Liverpool won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Gravenberch will effectively take Frimpong’s place in the squad with Slot to select from one of Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo or Dominik Szoboszlai to start at right-back.
The most likely candidates to be left out of the matchday group are Kostas Tsimikas, Trey Nyoni and James McConnell, though Slot could also consider omitting Leoni or even Rio Ngumoha.
Despite being without both of his right-backs, Slot has a strong squad available to him for what promises to be a fiery clash on Tyneside.
Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz, Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike all trained along with Gravenberch ahead of expected starting roles against Newcastle.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Friday, August 15, 2025: Liverpool's Milos Kerkez is replaced by substitute Wataru End? during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Slot will then have a decision to make over which of his standby options to choose at right-back, as well as which of Andy Robertson or Milos Kerkez starts at left-back.
That would leave the likes of Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa – the match-winner last time out against Bournemouth – as options from the bench.
Leoni is likely to join the substitutes given Liverpool have been short of natural centre-back cover, and Slot revealed that Gomez has not trained properly throughout the week following his return from injury against Bournemouth.
Liverpool will be given time off over the weekend before preparations resume ahead of the 8pm kickoff on Monday night.
Liverpool squad training for Newcastle
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 10, 2025: Liverpool players (L-R) Dominik Szoboszlai, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo warming 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, Pecsi
Defenders: Van Dijk, Konate, Gomez, Leoni, Robertson, Kerkez, Tsimikas, Bradley*
Midfielders: Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Jones, Endo, Elliott, Nyoni, McConnell
Forwards: Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike, Chiesa, Ngumoha
* Bradley worked separately