Latest Liverpool news and rumours as the Reds prepare for Sunday’s Community Shield clash against Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace manager Oliver GlasnerCrystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner(Image: Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)

Crystal Palace have suffered a major injury blow ahead of this weekend’s Community Shield clash against Liverpool at Wembley Stadium.

The Premier League champions take on the FA Cup winners on Sunday in what will be the first competitive fixture of the new campaign for both sides. The Reds last featured in the season curtain-raiser in 2022, when they defeated Manchester City 3-1 at the King Power Stadium.

Liverpool have enjoyed a productive pre-season, registering wins over Preston North End, Stoke City, Yokohama FM, and back-to-back victories against Athletic Club. Their only defeat came against AC Milan during the first leg of their tour in Hong Kong at the end of last month.

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Palace, meanwhile, have won three of their pre-season friendlies, losing their most recent outing against Augsburg last Friday. That match also brought an injury setback, with Eddie Nketiah ruled out of Sunday’s clash with Liverpool in the capital.

According to the BBC, the forward is expected to be sidelined for around six weeks with a hamstring injury sustained just 28 minutes into the second game of their double-header against Augsburg. Nketiah will also miss the Eagles’ Premier League opener against Chelsea a week after the Community Shield.

Liverpool, for their part, have injury concerns of their own, with Joe Gomez missing the second leg of the Reds’ Far East tour. The defender returned to England early due to an Achilles issue, which also ruled him out of both games against Athletic Club.

Right-back Conor Bradley was also absent for those two fixtures, while Virgil van Dijk was sidelined through illness. Goalkeeper Alisson Becker was another early departure from the tour, having flown home due to personal reasons.

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