Will Wright of Liverpool enters the pitch as a substitute to replace Florian Wirtz during the second pre-season friendly match between Liverpool and Athletic Club Bilbao at Anfield on August 04, 2025 in Liverpool, England.placeholder image
Will Wright of Liverpool enters the pitch as a substitute to replace Florian Wirtz during the second pre-season friendly match between Liverpool and Athletic Club Bilbao at Anfield on August 04, 2025 in Liverpool, England. | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Things spotted from Liverpool training ahead of the Premier League clash against Crystal Palace.
The Reds, who are in fifth spot, welcome Crystal Palace to Anfield and have the opportunity to go eight points above Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League table - and some 10 points clear of Chelsea.
While the 2025-26 campaign has been distinctly lacklustre, a berth in Europe's elite club competition would be somewhat of a salvation for Liverpool. While Arne Slot remains under pressure as head coach, delivering Champions League football is likely to extend his stay.
The Reds will hope that they can build on their 2-1 Merseyside derby win over Everton and take momentum into next term in the final five games of the campaign.
Liverpool uploaded footage of Thursday's session at the AXA Training Centre as they prepare to face a Palace side who have beaten the Reds three times in as many competitions this term.
Slot looks set to have depleted options once again. Joe Gomez, who missed the Merseyside derby, was not spotted in training. Neither was No.1 goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who has missed the past six games, and Giorgi Mamardashvili after he suffered a nasty wound against Everton. It means that third-choice stopper Freddie Woodman could be in line for a full Premier League debut for the Reds since his arrival from Preston last summer.
Hugo Ekitike will remain sidelined for potentially the rest of the year after rupturing his Achilles while Wataru Endo (ankle) is still unavailable.
As Alexander Isak is the only recognised striker available, with Jayden Danns still recovering from a hamstring injury, Liverpool opted to call-up Will Wright to training. The 18-year-old was signed from Salford City last summer and has scored four goals and created five assists in 17 appearances at under-19 and under-21 level. Wright missed a couple of months earlier in the campaign because of a knee injury but is now back up to speed.
With Gomez potentially out, Liverpool also included Mor Talla Ndiaye in their session. The 18-year-old centre-back joined the Reds from Senegalese side Amitie FC during the January transfer window. Ndiaye has played twice for the under-21s so far as an issue was flagged during his medical.
Kiernan Morrison has been regularly on the bench for Slot's side this season and came on in an FA Cup fourth-round win over Wolves in February. He was also rubbing shoulders with Virgil van Dijk, Mo Salah and Co.
Continue Reading