Liverpool hand Jeremy Jacquet a start against Como today as they finish their pre-season preparations at Anfield.
Andoni Iraola’s side are looking light in certain positions going into the new Premier League campaign, which begins with a trip to Newcastle next weekend.
A particular problem area is in central defence, with three injury concerns that left captain Virgil van Dijk as the only fit senior option available.
New signing Jacquet has been struggling with an unspecified issue that led him to miss the recent 3-2 defeat by Monaco.
The £60million arrival previously saw his final campaign at Rennes curtailed by a shoulder injury, and he has not yet played in pre-season. He is, however, back in team training and starts against Como.
Iraola is being cautious with his new signing, and he has acted in the transfer market, bringing in Ronald Araujo on loan from Barcelona. The Uruguay international is on the bench this evening.
Elsewhere, Giovanni Leoni continues his recovery from the ACL injury that he sustained on debut a year ago, while Joe Gomez limped off in the 4-2 win over Sunderland in the USA last month, replaced by youngster Ifeanyi Ndukwe. That muscle injury is likely to scupper his start to the season.
Newly-signed youngsters Ndukwe and Mor Talla Ndiaye have both featured in pre-season, as has Luke Chambers.
Iraola has also had to deal with the loss of Ibrahima Konate, who departed Liverpool on a free transfer upon the expiry of his contract, subsequently signing for Real Madrid.
Curtis Jones has also been hampered by a hip injury amid ongoing transfer links to Inter Milan. The midfielder returned to training this week having missed the defeat by Monaco, but sits out again here.
Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitike are longer-term absentees with knee and Achilles injuries respectively.
Victor Munoz and Alexis Mac Allister are back from their post-World Cup breaks but started alongside Liverpool’s second string in an initial behind-closed-doors friendly against Como held over 70 minutes at their training ground on Sunday, which ended in a goalless draw.
Munoz has also made it on to the bench for the second game and will hope to get more minutes as a substitute at Anfield.
Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak
Subs: Davies, Munoz, Araujo, Nyoni, Koumas, Ndiaye, Wright
Injured: Bradley, Leoni, Ekitike, Gomez, Danns
Time and date: 6pm BST on Sunday August 16, 2026
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool
How to watch: All Red Video
