Arsenal has been handed a boost in their bid to win the Community Shield this weekend as Liverpool appear to be suffering from a mild injury crisis.
Arsenal has just returned to training while the Reds have enjoyed a training camp in Austria where they played two matches ahead of this game.
The Gunners will be rustier than their Premier League-winning opponents, but even Liverpool are not entirely ready.
A majority of their players played the preseason friendlies that they played with Virgil van Dijk sustaining a nasty cut to the face in his last game.
However, a number of their players missed the games and The Mirror claims that players who weren’t involved in the games will likely not face Arsenal this weekend.
One of the key absentees from Liverpool’s preparations so far has been Trent Alexander-Arnold, but the Englishman is close to full fitness.
The report claims that Jordan Henderson, Joel Matip, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Harry Wilson, Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi all didn’t play in any of the matches and will not be selected.
Jurgen Klopp spoke about that in his recent press conference.
“All the boys which were not involved so far or got slight knocks in pre-season will not be available for tomorrow, but [they are] getting closer, really closer, closer and closer,”Jurgen Klopp told his pre-match press conference on Friday via Mirror.
“So hopefully the majority of them can start training completely normal after the Arsenal game, but this game is now a bit too early for them. Maybe one or two involved in the squad, we have to see.
“That’s it pretty much. Hendo and Joel looking really good, on a good way.
“Ox, early stages but good. Shaq, good. Trent, very close, we have to make a decision about tomorrow. Harry looks good.”
Be a good open game for both teams to play and experiment with players they may want to keep or go out on loan by getting a good look at them.
Saliba
AMN
Saka
Martinez
Smithrowe
Pepe
Hopefully all play from the start.
community shield is used as a friendly or practice….no clubs will take it seriously
Jurgen Klopp talking about the Community Shield:
“. . . it’s not a friendly, it’s a proper match against Arsenal.”
“It’s as perfect as we can be and we will try everything to win the game and Arsenal will do the same.”
Its the equivalent of the super cup in other nations.. Just because its called the community shield it doesn’t mean thats its any less important than its counterparts
It’s match day!! I’m taking it seriously…COYG
Arsenal must put out our best team irrespective of the Liverpool team sheet. We must go for the win, waiting to see if Saliba plays. Up the Gunners!
Patricks article fails to tell us thatof the six Liverpool doubtfuls, ONLY Henderson would have been a starter in their best eleven. All the others are bit players at most and easily not that much missed. Therefore the article attempts to paint a mostly untrue picture and as such I will always challenge it.
My view about the Shield is as it has been for decades past, in that it is only a much overhyped pre season friendly and though a piece of silverware is presented afterwards, it is NOT A PROPER TROPHY and is only regarded as such by those who prefer self foolery to self honesty.
Apologies to PATRICK as I now notice it was actually WRITTEN BY ADMARTIN.