Liverpool manager Arne Slot said Luis Diaz was left out of the friendly defeat against AC Milan because of speculation surrounding a move for the Colombia forward.
The Premier League champions rejected an opening bid of £58m from Bayern Munich earlier this month for Diaz, whose contract expires in the summer of 2027.
While Slot said Darwin Nunez missed the game against Milan in Hong Kong with an injury, he confirmed Diaz was omitted "due to speculation on his future".
"There are a lot of rumours around Luis lately and I cannot go into that," said Slot.
"He's training really well but we have decided for now not to play him."
Liverpool have signed forwards Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike already this summer and are in pursuit of Newcastle United's Alexander Isak.
Diaz arrived at Anfield from Porto in a deal worth an initial £37m in January 2022 and he was an integral part of the squad that won the 2024-25 Premier League.
Liverpool's record signing Wirtz made his first start for his new club against Milan at a sold-out Kai Tak Stadium.
