Liverpool: Virgil van Dijk and Alisson back in training ahead of Community Shield showdown | OneFootball

Reds handed a welcome boost ahead of the Wembley showdown

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and goalkeeper Alisson Becker are back in training ahead of this weekend’s clash against Crystal Palace.

Arne Slot’s side warmed up for the fixture by recording a pair of wins over Athletic Club on Monday, rounding off their preparations for the new campaign in style.

While summer signings Freddie Woodman, Armin Pecsi and Giorgi Mamardashvili were able to step in for Alisson across the two games, the Reds were forced into a defensive reshuffle in van Dijk’s absence.

In addition to Joe Gomez being unavailable through injury, it meant midfielder Trey Nyoni and left-back Andy Robertson were the central defensive pairing for the first game, with Wataru Endo partnering Ibrahima Konate for the second.

The good news is that van Dijk and Alisson were pictured in full training on Thursday which means they are both expected to be in contention to face the Eagles.

Slot is likely to provide an update on his two senior players in the pre-match press conference on Friday, though it would appear Gomez and Conor Bradley will remain sidelined.

Liverpool are also set to be without Darwin Nunez because he is set to join Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal. A fee in the region of £46.2million (€53million) was agreed on Wednesday and fresh reports claim the Uruguay international is set to undergo a medical ahead of his move.