Xherdan Shaqiri has picked up a calf injury and will miss the early stages of pre-season, Jurgen Klopp has revealed.
The Swiss international returned to Melwood today after his summer holidays, but will need to recover from the setback before his pre-season can start.
Jurgen Klopp has confirmed Xherdan Shaqiri is recovering from a calf tear sustained on international duty. Won't play any part in the early stages of #LFC's pre-season.
— David Lynch (@dmlynch) July 9, 2019
With Sadio Mane still playing for Senegal at the African Cup of Nations, and potentially missing the start of the season if his country goes all the way to the final, this is a big concern.
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Mo Salah should be back by the end of the month, and will therefore be able to play from the beginning of the campaign, injury permitting, but Shaqiri will be needed to cover for Mane.
Hopefully, the calf problem clears up sooner rather than later and he can prepare in time to face Norwich City on the opening day of the Premier League season.
What this does show, though, is that there is not a great deal of depth in the Reds’ front line. The need for a versatile attacker to come in might just have intensified.