Liverpool pair Alison Baker and Diogo Jota have been ruled out of Saturday’s Community Shield match against Manchester City.
Reds keeper Alisson has been battling a stomach problem throughout the pre-season, while Portugal forward Jota has been battling a hamstring injury.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp confirmed on Thursday that both players will be missing the traditional curtain-raiser at King Power Stadium for the rest of the English top-flight season.
Alisson is the closest to being available once training resumes, but the Brazilian is targeting a Premier League opening game against Fulham on 6 August.
Jota suffered a long run and was not with the squad at his training camp in Austria this week.
“Ali trained more today than he did the day before, so he will certainly be available for Fulham, but not for the weekend,” Klopp said.
“Diogo isn’t here with us so how can he play a football game? Unfortunately it will take some time.”
Read also| Sevilla’s French defender Jules Condé signs five-year Barcelona deal, say reports
As the campaign kicks off early this year, Klopp admits he doesn’t have enough time in the pre-season to do all the things he enjoys.
Because of this, Liverpool will play another friendly match against Strasbourg after the Community Shield.
The FA Cup and League Cup holders are also due to arrange another warm-up fixture after the top-flight campaign begins at Fulham.
“We’ll have to extend our pre-season if you want to,” Klopp said.
“We play against City on Saturday and we play a pre-season friendly against Strasbourg on Sunday. Then Fulham and the next day we play another game.”
Despite tough preparations for a season that will also have a winter break World Cup in Qatar, Klopp is hoping his side can take the field against Premier League champions City this weekend.
City won the title by defeating Liverpool by just one point on the last day of the previous season.
“It’s very important. We’ve played this ‘final’ twice and it would be nice if we can win it,” Klopp said.
“This is the last domestic cup competition we haven’t won yet, so we’ll try it.”
read all breaking news And today’s fresh news Here