Liverpool will be without goalkeeper Alisson Becker and forward Diogo Jota when they face Manchester City in the Community Shield on Saturday.
Both players have been injured during pre-season and neither will be able to feature in the curtain-raiser at the King Power Stadium.
Alisson is the closest to being available having resumed training after an abdominal problem but the Brazilian is targeting the opening Premier League game against Fulham on 6 August.
Jota has been sidelined with a hamstring injury and is not even with the squad at their training camp in Austria this week.
Manager Jurgen Klopp said at a press conference on Thursday: “Ali trained today more than the day before, so he will definitely be available for Fulham, but not for the weekend.
“Diogo is not here with us so how could he play a football game? It will take a while, unfortunately.”
Alisson picked up an abdominal injury during pre-season and hasn’t featured for the Reds since the defeat to Manchester United in their opening game.
As for Jota, the forward suffered a recurrence of the hamstring injury he picked up at the end of last season whilst playing for the national team and did not take part in Liverpool’s training camp in Austria.
This is a big blow for Klopp ahead of Saturday’s game. The news was shared on Twitter by City Xtra and it attracted plenty of attention from Man City supporters.
“No Alisson is big.”
Credit: @7Mcfcmax
“Big loss for Liverpool, still a tough game regardless.”
Credit: @AdnanShake657
“Man’s trying to get the Liverpool FC sympathy train going to make himself look better when it goes well..”
Credit: @9320cityzens
“Alisson is a huge loss for them.”
Credit: @CitySZN__
“This is some very good news. Allison being ruled out is a prodigious thing to hear as a City fan. I have to admit that our chances of winning the game now are very elevated.”
Credit: @TheInvertedFB
“Big news!! massive for us..”
Credit: @man_citizen4
“We have no excuses, should win.”
Credit: @samxmcfc
“We’re winning that plate.”
Credit: @_travn
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