Liverpool will have to make do without the services of Marko Grujic, Danny Ings, Adam Lallana and Joel Matip for their penultimate pre-season clash against Napoli on Saturday, the club confirmed.
Ings has spent an injury-riddled few years at Anfield and while’s he’s fully fit, it appears that Jurgen Klopp wants use the tie against the Serie A outfit to give other forwards playing time.
Grujic has been struggling with a sore hamstring while Lallana has a calf niggle and both players have been withdrawn as a precaution.
Matip, another player with a long history of injuries, has a sore hip flexor and thus, misses out on the tie against Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Almost all of Liverpool’s senior players are available for selection after the 2018 FIFA World Cup, with skipper Jordan Henderson the only one yet to return after his exertions for England in Russia.
Apart from the aforementioned quintet, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is the other big name to not be in contention for Saturday’s game as the England midfielder is a long-term casualty with a serious knee injury.
The club have spent over a £175 million in the calendar year and speculation is rife that they will be forced to offload several players in the summer.
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Divock Origi and now, Ings are expected to make way to balance the sheets, as are Lazar Markovic and perhaps even Loris Karius or Simon Mignolet.
Following Saturday’s tie against Napoli, Liverpool round off their pre-season with a Tuesday night fixture against Torino.
Following their spending spree and their exploits on the European stage, Klopp’s men are among the favourites for the Premier League title this season.
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They open their 2018/19 league campaign with a home fixture against West Ham United on August 12.