Arne Slot Delivers Exciting Double Injury Update as Liverpool Stars Return for Community Shield

Liverpool boss Arne Slot anticipated that both Virgil van Dijk and Alisson will be available for Sunday's Community Shield clash with Crystal Palace, though the team's defensive concerns could continue.

The defending Premier League titleholders faced Athletic Club in two matches on Monday during their final pre-season friendlies. Slot utilized 32 different squad members, but neither the team captain nor primary goalkeeper took part.

Alisson departed Liverpool's Asian tour to head back to Brazil due to "personal matters". Slot acknowledged this was "less than optimal". Van Dijk has been carefully managed throughout this summer's matches and was completely absent from the club's touching homecoming at Anfield.

Slot disclosed before kickoff that his Dutch captain was battling illness on Monday and anticipated his recovery by Sunday. "Alisson will return in time too," the coach stated.

Nevertheless, the injury report wasn't entirely positive. "Nearly everyone is healthy or remained healthy," Slot reflected. "Joe Gomez isn't available, Conor Bradley isn't available." He mentioned that "it will be close" for their participation at Wembley Stadium this weekend.

Gomez sustained a minor Achilles problem near the end of July, leaving Slot with only Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté as available senior center-backs. The Dutch manager has remained firmly insistent that he harbors no "worries" about this shortage of defenders, noting that defensive midfielders Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo can fill the position if required.

Liverpool have still been connected with a potential signing of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi this summer, though they encounter rivalry from Newcastle United.

Bradley had been a consistent presence at right-back this summer while Trent Alexander-Arnold was absent, ahead of new summer addition Jeremie Frimpong. Liverpool announced that the Northern Ireland player has been dealing with a "minor injury" and is in a time crunch to be ready this weekend.

Frimpong represents a natural substitute, though he won't be expected to match Alexander-Arnold's creative contributions—that responsibility has been placed upon Florian Wirtz.