Premier LeagueLiverpool v Bournemouth: Team news

Joe Gomez was back in training with the reigning champions this week after recently being sidelined with a minor fitness issue.

On the possibility of the No.2 returning to the squad for the 8pm BST kick-off against the Cherries, Arne Slot said at his pre-match press conference: “I have to make a decision on that.

“I think he only trained twice now, missed quite a lot in pre-season. But if you looked at our bench against Palace, I think there were three players that were 20 years old or younger.

“So, there is a possibility that Joe might be on the bench but I have to look at the numbers and who we’re going to take.”

No update was given on Conor Bradley, who was not involved in last weekend’s FA Community Shield at Wembley as he recovers from an injury.

Ryan Gravenberch is suspended for this match as a result of his red card on the final day of last season.

If selected for his competitive Anfield debut, summer signing Milos Kerkez will be up against his former club.

On the challenge Bournemouth pose, Slot said: “They made it really difficult for us last season. We beat them 3-0, where you feel like ‘What is he talking about, difficult?’

“But if you look at the game, they had the first big chance of the game, they scored a goal which was fractionally offside. Then we three times, I wouldn’t say counter-attacked them but we were very fast in moving the ball from back to forward. And all of a sudden at half-time we were 3-0 up, and then I thought – which I always thought when I was a manager in Holland – ‘This is going to be four, five or six-nil’.

“But the mentality Bournemouth showed in the second half, they just kept on going. That’s the mentality they had throughout the whole season afterwards as well.

“They also lost some players, they also brought in good new ones – as they’ve shown in the last few years, that they can always bring in good new players. And away, it was even more difficult for us.

“So, very good team, good manager and a challenge for us on Friday. But looking forward to it because an evening game at Anfield is something that everyone is looking forward to it.”

For the visitors, Enes Unal is a long-term absentee having suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in January. Also on the sidelines in recent months have been Ryan Christie, Lewis Cook, Justin Kluivert and Luis Sinisterra.

“Justin hasn’t been training with us and won’t play,” Cherries boss Andoni Iraola said on Thursday afternoon.

“Ryan has been training this week with us, which is positive. It’s too early for him to play as he hasn’t done any pre-season. He hasn’t done a lot of things for a lot of weeks, so it’s too early – but it’s good to have him back on the pitch with the group.”

On the availability of Dango Ouattara amid speculation regarding his future, Iraola said: “Dango is going to train with us today. He’s here, he’s in the building – but it’s true, I don’t know what’s going to happen.

“We’re taking it day by day. I’ll ask the club if he can play, if he can travel.

“These are the kinds of situations every team faces – players leaving, players arriving. It’ll continue like this for the next two weeks.”

Incomings for Bournemouth this summer include Eli Junior Kroupi, Adrien Truffert, Djordje Petrovic and, announced on Wednesday, Bafode Diakite.

On facing Liverpool for matchday one, Iraola added: “It’s a tough game for us – the first of the season, and we’re up against the champions.

“They’ve also signed really well this summer, so we know it won’t be easy. We have to be ready, give everything, and make them feel at some point that beating us won’t be easy.”

Last match

August 10 | Liverpool 2-2 Crystal Palace (2-3 pens): Alisson, Frimpong, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Szoboszlai, Jones, Wirtz, Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike.

August 9 | Bournemouth 0-0 Real Sociedad: Petrovic, Truffert, Senesi, Hill, Araujo, Adams, Winterburn, Semenyo, Tavernier, Brooks, Kroupi.