A year ago
FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED from Liverpool's pre season win
Liverpool's pre-season campaign commenced with an exhilarating clash against Karlsruher on the banks of The Rhine, leaving fans in awe of their beloved manager Jurgen Klopp, who was celebrated by the locals after guiding his team to a 4-2 victory and clinching a trophy. While it's still early days and optimal fitness is yet to be achieved, the match provided valuable insights into what the future might hold for Liverpool.
One standout moment featured Darwin Nunez, who scored the opening goal just two minutes and 36 seconds into the game. Signed from Benfica for £64 million a year ago, Nunez had a somewhat underwhelming debut season, with Klopp expressing concerns over his command of English and a modest tally of 15 goals in all competitions. However, there's a prevailing belief that the Uruguayan striker possesses the potential to flourish, possibly becoming a prolific scorer with around 30 goals in the upcoming season. Klopp seems confident that Nunez has the qualities to thrive as Liverpool's number nine, and his early goal in the pre-season match might be a sign of great things to come.
Another player who caught the eye was Dominik Szoboszlai, Liverpool's £60 million acquisition. Though it's premature to compare him to Kevin De Bruyne, there's no denying his talent and potential. In his 45 minutes on the pitch, Szoboszlai demonstrated impressive passing skills, completing 44 out of 46 passes. The manager appeared delighted with his performance, and it's clear that the Hungarian international has a bright future ahead at the club.
Defensively, Klopp emphasized that pre-season games serve as training exercises, but he couldn't help but react when he saw areas for improvement. While Liverpool allowed two impressive goals from Karlsruhe, Klopp is working on a new tactical approach, which involves Trent Alexander-Arnold moving into midfield and abandoning the three-man defense. This change requires cohesion among the players, and Klopp recognizes the need for further work to fine-tune the system.
A notable player who shone during the match was Diogo Jota, who had endured a goal drought for Liverpool until he found the net against Leeds in April. Since then, Jota's performances have been on the rise, and despite facing inferior defenders in the pre-season, he displayed his quality with a well-taken brace. Klopp has great faith in the Portuguese forward and believes that his best is yet to come as he enters his third year at Anfield.
As customary in pre-season, Klopp granted playing time to Academy graduates, with Ben Doak standing out as a potential star. The 17-year-old impressed the manager and is likely to feature in senior matches during the season. Klopp expressed admiration for the talented youngsters in the squad, hinting at the bright future that lies ahead for Liverpool, with the potential emergence of several promising players from the Academy.
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