Liverpool to be without six players for Community Shield clash against Arsenal

Liverpool will be missing at least six players for Saturday’s Community Shield clash against Arsenal at Wembley, although Trent Alexander-Arnold is winning his fitness battle and could feature.

The Premier League champions will face the FA Cup winners behind closed doors at the national stadium, and less than a month after the Gunners earned their place in the fixture with their Wembley win over Chelsea.

Arsenal’s players only returned to training this week, with manager Mikel Arteta admitting that his squad looks a little rusty.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have been away at their training camp in Austria playing friendly matches against Stuttgart and Red Bull Salzburg.

Defender Virgil van Dijk was forced off with a nasty cut to his head in the latter match, but he will be fit to feature against the Gunners.

Jordan Henderson, Joel Matip, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Harry Wilson, Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi didn’t play in either friendly and won’t be considered for selection at Wembley.

Alexander-Arnold also didn’t play in either match, but he is said to be close to being available to face the Gunners.

“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.

“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.”

Several Liverpool players will depart for international duty after the match, with the Reds returning to Premier League action against newly-promoted Leeds United on the weekend of September 12.

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