Ings, Lallana, Matip, and Grujic Out for Liverpool FC vs Napoli

The quartet of LFC players will not make an appearance in Saturday’s friendly against Napoli.

On the eve of Liverpool Football Club’s tune up against Napoli, the club has released a little bit of news on who won’t be suiting up for the Reds. The official site listed Danny Ings, Adam Lallana, Joel Matip, and Marko Grujic as a group of Reds flying back to Melwood instead of continuing with the team to Dublin in preparation for their tilt against Napoli.

Lallana and Grujic seemed to be late scratches as both were removed from contention with injury concerns. Lallana is dealing with a calf issue and Grujic with hamstring problem. Joel Matip, in the meanwhile, is sidelined with a sore hip flexor.

Danny Ings, however, poses an interesting case as it looks like the decision - labeled by the club as one being made by mutual agreement between player and club - to pull him from participation in the friendly is ahead of a rumored transfer. As has been reported here and elsewhere, Ings looks on the verge to move to Crystal Palace for a substantial fee. And with the official club report noting that Danny Ings is at full fitness, one can only guess that the negotiations are at an advanced stage.

All told, it still looks like a rather strong squad entering Saturday’s friendly against Napoli. The Reds in Dublin will no doubt be very excited to see the likes of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, and the rest of the gang walk out onto the pitch in short order. And this also means that, for the rest of us, we’re about 9 days removed from the first match of the season. Almost there, friends. Almost there.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com