“It’s going to be close” – Arne Slot anxious about the fitness of two Liverpool players ahead of the Community Shield.

Arne Slot is unsure if two Liverpool players will be fit to participate in the Community Shield at Wembley next Sunday.

The Dutch manager fielded nearly all his first-team squad, along with some academy players, during the double-header against Athletic Bilbao at Anfield on Monday. However, four key players were absent from both matches.

Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez missed out due to minor injuries, Virgil van Dijk was sidelined with illness, and Alisson Becker left Liverpool’s pre-season tour in Asia early to attend to a personal issue in Brazil.

When asked about the availability of these players for the Community Shield and the Premier League opener against Bournemouth, Slot told liverpoolfc.com: “Virgil normally not. Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley, it’s going to be tight. Alisson will be back in time as well.”

Liverpool’s defensive options are limited, forcing Slot to make unusual selections. For instance, in the first match, the center-back pairing included left-back Andy Robertson and young midfielder Trey Nyoni, while midfielder Wataru Endo played in defense alongside Ibrahima Konate in the second game.

Pre-season games are ideal for trying new tactics, but with the competitive season starting soon and the transfer window closing in less than a month, the lack of defensive depth is a serious concern.

If Van Dijk recovers from his illness and no more injuries occur, Liverpool could field a solid back four with Jeremie Frimpong, Van Dijk, Konate, and Robertson against Crystal Palace. However, a possible hamstring injury to Nyoni was noted during the match.

While signing Alexander Isak would be exciting, Richard Hughes should prioritize bringing in another center-back this month. Even with Gomez available, having only three senior defenders is risky going into the autumn.

Hopefully, Slot will have a fully fit squad for the Community Shield and Liverpool won’t face defensive depth issues throughout the 2025/26 season, unlike the struggles they had five years ago when defending their Premier League title.