Liverpool started pre-season against Karlsruher, with Jürgen Klopp confirming a big call in the absence of Fabinho or Jordan Henderson. Here's what we've seen.
Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp gestures during the pre-season friendly match between Karlsruher SC and Liverpool FC at BBBank Wildparkstadion on July 19, 2023 in Karlsruhe, Germany.
Jürgen Klopp confirmed his move from Liverpool in the first pre-season game of the summer.
BBBANK WILDPARK, KARLSRUHER // Liverpool started their pre-season schedule with more vigor than usual, but Jürgen Klopp's men found the focus to deliver a promising opener. Faced with a more progressive Karlsruher in their preparation, the Reds dominated for long, eventually winning 4-2 thanks to two very late strikes.
Darwin Núñez gave Liverpool an early lead, coordinating a bit hesitantly with Mohamed Salah before a nice finish. The Reds squandered their lead, losing 2-1 on goals on both sides in the first half, but Klopp's new side in the second half found a well-deserved equalizer before scoring in the net.
Pre-match talk focused on Jordan Henderson, with the Liverpool captain left out of the squad amid ongoing relations with Saudi Arabia. This has limited Klopp's options in midfield, with Fabinho not even going to Germany when he completed his move. But there have been new signings to be seen, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister both leaving in Liverpool's midfield. They played every first half and showed off flashes to excite the eager fans watching, with Klopp creating the surprise.
It's a recurring theme, with managers trying out a number of potentially unexpected tests, with varying degrees of success. Of course, the time has come and we may have just seen the first real hints of the new season.
Here are five things that Liverpool.com discovered during the match. Move Alexandre-Arnold
Innovation or necessity? That was the question when news of the Liverpool squad surfaced, and certainly only Klopp knew. But whatever the reason, Trent Alexander-Arnold was brought on in central midfield for this game, with Conor Bradley at right-back.
There weren't many other options in the defensive midfield, given the circumstances around Henderson and especially Fabinho. But Klopp opted to leave Mac Allister on the bench, rather than using him as part of a stronger squad in the first half - perhaps, amid the potential Saudi exodus, he wanted to see Alexander-Arnold in the number six spot? If it was an audition, he did very well. There may be question marks over whether he can get into the game enough from such a remote base, with everyone eager to make the most of his phenomenal talent, but at least he passed the test without great difficulty. A beautifully weighted ball for Mohamed Salah allayed concerns about his ability to drop deep.
No respite for Konaté as Klopp's appeal is confirmed
With Alexander-Arnold moving into midfield, Ibrahima Konaté can expect some relief in his quest to cover the space on the right. But just like at the end of last season, he was asked to play the two, when Bradley asked Klopp to do the opposite. This is interesting for several reasons. First, it's a strong indication that the new system will survive, with Klopp using it even without Alexander-Arnold in this combined role. This decision seems to have been confirmed.
But it's also a vote of faith in Bradley and his technical abilities.
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