Liverpool record signing Florian Wirtz is not involved in the squad for the first pre-season friendly of the summer against Preston North End.

The German who joined from Bayer Leverkusen for a whopping $157 million (£116 million), is among several players not included in today's squad, alongside captain Virgil van Dijk, defender Ibrahima Konate, midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and winger Luis Diaz.

Several senior Liverpool players not participating in today's match have been undergoing individual training sessions back at Kirkby.



Given the disruption to Liverpool's pre-season preparations, no chances are being taken with player fitness.

Florian Wirtz absence explained as 5 signings could make Liverpool debut vs Preston	Florian Wirtz absence explained as £29m new signing makes Liverpool debut vs Preston	Florian Wirtz Liverpool shirt number explained as new signings set to debut

The match is Liverpool's first since the death of Diogo Jota with players understood to have been given the option to be involved.

Giorgi Mamardashvili is set to make his Liverpool debut in the opening pre-season friendly

Mamardashvili is the sole summer signing starting the match at Deepdale.

Other new recruits Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, along with keepers Freddie Woodman and Armin Pesci, will be on the bench.

Mohamed Salah is the standout name in the starting line-up at Deepdale, with Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai filling the deeper midfield positions.



The Liverpool team bus arrives before the pre-season friendly football match between Preston North End and Liverpool at Deepdale stadium in Preston, north-west England on July 13, 2025