Liverpool XI vs Arsenal: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and latest Community Shield injury list
Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to win his fitness race ahead of Liverpool’s Community Shield meeting with Arsenal.
The defender missed the Reds’ pre-season training camp in Austria this summer as a result of what was described as a minor injury complaint.
He instead remained on Merseyside to follow a bespoke fitness programme aimed at readying him for this weekend’s visit to Wembley Stadium.
And Standard Sport understands that, barring a late setback in training this afternoon, Alexander-Arnold will feature in the squad to face Mikel Arteta’s men on Saturday.
He will be joined by Virgil van Dijk, who sustained a deep cut above his eye during Liverpool’s final friendly, a 2-2 draw with RB Salzburg, but is in line to start.
Jurgen Klopp will, however, be denied the services of a number of players who missed out on pre-season due to fitness concerns.
Jordan Henderson, Joel Matip, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Xherdan Shaqiri, Harry Wilson and Divock Origi won’t make the trip to the capital this weekend.
But Klopp remained optimistic on their progress, revealing that a number could be back in time for the start of the Premier League season.
He said: “All the boys which were not involved so far or got slight knocks in pre-season will not be available for tomorrow, but [are] getting closer, really closer, closer and closer.
“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 [Matip] 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 [Wilson] looks good.”
Liverpool predicted XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Keita, Salah, Firmino, Mane
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