Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo will fully participate in Liverpool’s pre-season preparations as both players will not compete in the 2024 Olympics with their respective national teams. Despite discussions from Egypt and Japan about including them as overage players for the U23 tournament in Paris from July 24 to August 10, the clubs are not required to release players for the Olympics since it is not a FIFA-sanctioned event. Following negotiations, Salah and Endo will remain in Merseyside.

Stefan Bajcetic is another player who will miss the Olympics, not representing Spain’s U23 team. The young midfielder needs a careful pre-season to regain his best form after missing most of the previous season due to injury.

For new head coach Arne Slot, not losing any players to the Paris Olympics is welcome news. It allows him to instill his tactics and style of play in the squad he has inherited from Jurgen Klopp.

Consequently, both Salah and Endo will join Liverpool’s pre-season tour in the USA later this month. The Reds will travel to Pittsburgh on July 23 and face Real Betis in their first friendly match three days later. They will kick off the 2024/25 Premier League season against newly promoted Ipswich Town on Saturday, August 17.