Liverpool are back in action on Sunday as they face Preston North End in their first pre-season match of the summer
Football has understandably taken a backseat at Anfield in recent days following the tragic passing of Diogo Jota. As the club and fans continue to grieve, Liverpool have made the decision to proceed with Sunday’s emotional pre-season fixture at Deepdale against Preston North End.
A First Look at Liverpool’s New Signings
With the club’s media team rightly avoiding coverage of training this week out of respect, supporters have yet to see any footage of the new arrivals. That will change on Sunday, as Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, and Giorgi Mamardashvili are all expected to make their unofficial debuts in what will undoubtedly be a poignant occasion.
The fixture marks the beginning of Arne Slot’s pre-season campaign, with optimism building around what this new era could bring. However, not everyone will be involved.
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Bajcetic Ruled Out Amid Recovery
According to Liverpool ECHO, Stefan Bajcetic will miss the game as he continues recovering from hamstring surgery. The 20-year-old Spaniard had looked set for a role in Slot’s squad after a strong loan spell at Las Palmas, despite a quieter stint earlier in the season with RB Salzburg.
Joining Bajcetic on the sidelines are Tyler Morton and Harvey Elliott, neither of whom have returned to training yet.
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A Glimpse at the Youth
In more positive news, Ben Doak, Trey Nyoni, and James McConnell have been training with the first team and could feature on Sunday, offering fans a chance to witness some of the club’s brightest prospects in action.
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What Next for Bajcetic?
Bajcetic’s Liverpool career has so far been stop-start, largely due to persistent injuries. Once hailed by Jurgen Klopp as “exceptional,” his momentum has been halted again at a key point in his development.
Whether he will feature in the coming weeks remains uncertain, but his situation raises questions about his short-term future. If the recovery drags on and he’s unable to participate in the rest of pre-season, a loan move may be ruled out entirely, keeping him at the club to continue rehabilitation.
For now, Liverpool will hope to see Bajcetic back before the end of pre-season—and more importantly, honour Jota’s memory with dignity as they take the field at Deepdale.