Liverpool are back in action on Sunday as they face Preston North End in their first pre-season match of the summer.

Football has taken a backseat at Anfield in the build up to the game, with the tragic death of Diogo Jota putting things into perspective.

But as Liverpool continue to honour Jota, they have chosen to go ahead with the fixture at Deepdale on Sunday.

With the media team understandably keeping cameras away from the Liverpool training ground since their return on Tuesday, fans have not seen anything of their new signings this summer.

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Amid what is set to be an emotional atmosphere, supporters will get their first sightings of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Giorgi Mamardashvili.

However, as the new boys gear up to make their bow in difficult circumstances, one Liverpool player has already been ruled out of Sunday’s game.



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Unlike last year, Arne Slot has been able to work with more or less the full Liverpool squad for a whole pre-season schedule.

While the sadness over Jota’s sudden passing will continue to linger, getting everyone back early may still have a positive impact on Liverpool’s season.

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According to the Liverpool ECHO, though, Slot will not have a full complement available to him at Preston.

They claim that midfielder Stefan Bajcetic will not play as he continues to recover from hamstring surgery.

ClubAppearancesGoalsAssistsRB Salzburg1900Las Palmas1410Stefan Bajcetic 2024/25

READ MORE: Liverpool confirm what tributes will take place for Diogo Jota during Sunday’s game against Preston

As well as Bajcetic, neither Tyler Morton nor Harvey Elliott will feature, with both reportedly yet to return to training.

In better news, it is claimed that Wirtz and his fellow new signings are set for their debuts at Deepdale.

Furthermore, youngsters Ben Doak, Trey Nyoni and James McConnell are also said to have been working with the first team.

After Slot chose not to keep Bajcetic last summer, he ultimately went on to have a good season away from Liverpool.

His spell at RB Salzburg was not the best, admittedly, but Bajcetic blossomed after joining Las Palmas.

The 20-year-old looked primed to return to Liverpool with a good chance of playing his part in the squad next season.

However, what was likely a pre-planned surgery has put a spanner in the works.

It remains to be seen how long Bajcetic is sidelined for, but it does not bode especially well for a player whose Liverpool career has been blighted by injury problems.

Fingers crossed he can return to play some part in pre-season.

If it is a longer term injury, it also seems likely that Bajcetic will not be let out before the transfer deadline.