---
title: "Virals: Liverpool confirm latest fitness update ahead of Bologna friendly"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/virals-liverpool-confirm-latest-fitness-update-ahead-of-bologna-friendly/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2021-08-05T07:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-08-05T07:00:00Z"
---

# Virals: Liverpool confirm latest fitness update ahead of Bologna friendly

[Liverpool](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/08/04/virals-liverpool-have-philippe-coutinho-on-their-radar-this-summer/) will make the next step in their pre-season preparations on Thursday evening when they face Bologna in Evian.

The Reds will undergo back-to-back [60-minute friendlies](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/439520-live-on-thursday-watch-liverpool-s-two-friendlies-v-bologna) against the Serie A side ahead of a return to the UK for clashes with Atletic Bilbao and Osasuna.

Jurgen Klopp has [welcomed back the Brazilian contingent](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/439817-alisson-fabinho-and-firmino-to-play-versus-bologna) this week, whilst captain Jordan Henderson remains away from the squad.

On Wednesday, having made a 20-minute cameo against Hertha Berlin last week, Virgil van Dijk [confirmed](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/439766-virgil-van-dijk-exclusive-comeback-interview-evian) himself and Joe Gomez would likely see around half an hour of action this time.

It wasn’t all good news ahead of the clash however as Klopp [confirmed](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/439819-thiago-alcantara-fitness-update-jurgen-klopp) elsewhere Thiago would be unavailable due to a ‘slight issue’ picked up before a return to Liverpool training.

> Twitter: Jürgen Klopp has confirmed @Thiago6 will miss our pre-season contests with Bologna on Thursday due to a minor injury. (@LFC)

Thiago missed [17 games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/thiago/verletzungen/spieler/60444) last season with a knee injury picked up in the Merseyside derby.

Having made a successful comeback the trophy-laden Spaniard made [four appearances](https://www.sofascore.com/player/thiago-alcantara/53825) for the nation at Euro 2020.

### READ LIVERPOOL VERDICT

Klopp will be desperate for Thiago to get some minutes in either of the Anfield friendlies on the horizon as a [Premier League meeting with Norwich City](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/match/2021-22/men/fixtures-and-results) comes into view.

With Henderson almost [certain to miss](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/439544-jurgen-klopp-exclusive-brazilian-trio-bologna-friendlies-and-squad-ping-pong-battle) the encounter due to prolonged involvement in the European Championships, the Reds could be forced to field a makeshift midfield containing James Milner, Curtis Jones or Naby Keita.

At the base of the midfield should be the ever-reliable Fabinho, who alongside fellow Brazilian, Alisson, [signed a new contract](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/439844-alisson-becker-signs-new-long-term-contract-with-liverpool-fc) to extend a Merseyside stay this week.

As the season fast approaches and injury concerns are already flagged up – no matter how minor – this must surely act as a warning sign and mean the club finally heads into the market for that [Gini Wijnaldum](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/07/27/virals-liverpool-reportedly-ready-to-make-41million-saul-niguez-offer/) replacement.