Liverpool preseason: The 11 players MISSING from Arne Slot’s first squad

Arne Slot is currently coaching a Liverpool squad that misses 11 first-team players. Here’s everyone absent right now.

The Arne Slot era is underway at Liverpool and he's currently working with his first squad with the Reds. They'll get work done in Kirkby before flying out to the US imminently.

Liverpool take on Real Betis in Pittsburgh on the 26th (though, technically the 27th in the UK), before friendlies against Arsenal and Manchester United. They'll fly back to face Sevilla at Anfield on August 11th and then the proper football starts.

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Slot has a little bit of time, then, to imprint his ideas on the squad and get them operating the way he wants. But no matter how well things go, the Dutchman is working at a major disadvantage.

The Reds are without 11 first-team players right now. That's the result of two international tournaments taking place this summer, with Liverpool stars going far in both.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Alexis Mac Allister, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez all played the full-length of their respective tournaments, essentially. It means they're not required to return until after Liverpool are back from the US, per the Athletic.

Returning Liverpool players

Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch and Ibrahima Konaté all reached the Euro 2024 semi-finals and could return for the final fixture in the USA. It seems unlikely that Liverpool would bother flying them out, though.

Alisson Becker and Diogo Jota are more likely to make that flight, with Brazil and Portugal having bowed out a little prematurely. Even then, though, they'll miss at least one fixture.

As you've likely noticed, these aren't exactly bit-part players. Slot is dealing without the bulk of his presumed first-choice XI and most of them will have to learn his ways in competitive games, which is far from ideal.

A tough start for the new boss, then - and that's before we actually see some signings.

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