Liverpool prepare for pre-season five weeks after Champions League victory

Whilst some other Premier League sides have started their pre-season preparations, Liverpool will officially begin to welcome back the first team this coming weekend.

Many other English sides saw their seasons finish two months ago, but the reds endured a three week training period before the build up to the European Cup final on the 1st June.

There were a number of internationals immediately following that final in Madrid - with England and Netherlands involved in the UEFA Nations Cup and some European Championship qualifying.

Liverpool's pre-season friendlies kick off one week today, with a trip to Tranmere Rovers on the 11th July followed by a friendly against Bradford City on the 14th.

The English and Dutch contingent will be available for the mid to late July trip to the United States but Liverpool's front three will be significant omissions from the squad.

Reds minus the front three

Both Roberto Firmino and Alisson Becker have helped Brazil to the Copa America final this weekend, and their summer break will then be trimmed down to three weeks.  They are likely to return to the reds in the week before the Community Shield against Manchester City.

The continuation of the African Cup of Nations presents an even bigger problems for the reds.

Naby Keita has departed Guinea's campaign after suffering a muscle injury and will be a late addition to Liverpool's pre-season.  Meanwhile both Sadio Mane and Mo Salah continue into the knockout stages with their respective Senegal and Egypt.

Both sides could reach the final in a potential head to head and that wouldn't take place until the 19th July, when Liverpool will be training in the United States.

If both of those players reach that final they could well miss the entirety of Liverpool's pre-season - the reds face Norwich in the Premier League opening game just 20 days after the AFCON final.

Youth involved

Liverpool's under 23s returned to training yesterday and Academy boss Neil Critchley has already pointed out that the youngsters will be following similar training times as the senior players, with some travelling to Melwood and likely being involved in the early pre-season fixtures.

It is all part of not only assessing the next crop of talented youngsters, but continuing the integration of senior side and academy teams who will all train at one complex from their target date of next summer.

Although there is always the potential of building delays, this could be the last pre-season spent at Melwood.

📺 All of LFC's pre-season fixtures will be televised on the clubs official channel, which you can subscribe to now

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