Liverpool have confirmed that 16 players will return for the first day of pre-season training, with new signing Sepp van den Berg among them.
The Reds’ preparations for the 2019-20 campaign are set to begin at Melwood on Saturday, though a number of players will be late reporting back as a result of national team commitments undertaken during the summer.
Those who took part in end-of-season friendlies or the Uefa Nations League, such as captain Jordan Henderson and defender Virgil van Dijk, have been given extra time to recuperate.
That will also be the case for players who are currently involved in the Copa America and Africa Cup of Nations, including Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Alisson Becker.
As such, Jurgen Klopp will have a skeleton squad padded out by young players to work with on Saturday afternoon.
Pre-season under the German typically begins with lactate tests in which the squad’s fitness after their time off is assessed.
Ball work will then get underway as the Reds prepare for their first friendly fixture of pre-season, which will see them take on Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park next Thursday.
Returning players: Arroyo, Brewster, Clyne, Fabinho, Gomez, Kent, Hoever, Jones, Lallana, Matip, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Phillips, Van den Berg, Wilson, Woodburn.
