Liverpool kicked off the Asia leg of their pre-season pleasant schedule by thrashing Leicester 4-0 in Singapore.
With the marketing campaign correct edging nearer, the Reds produced their most convincing efficiency of the summer season in beating their not too long ago relegated opponents.
Targets from Darwin Nunez, Bobby Clark and Diogo Jota put Jurgen Klopp‘s three to the nice earlier than the half-time break, and the rout was accomplished by teenager Ben Doak within the second 45 minutes.
Right here, we check out 5 issues we discovered from one other optimistic outing for Liverpool.
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Curtis the holder?
With Liverpool having misplaced their first-choice holding midfielder in Fabinho and backup in Jordan Henderson, there have been calls for 2 specialists in that place to be signed.
However, as a supervisor who usually likes to maintain his squad concerned, it might be not like Klopp to signal a participant as a pure second alternative, with Kostas Tsimikas arguably the one participant on the membership who matches that invoice.
With that in thoughts, you marvel if, alongside Romeo Lavia, the plan is to signal a multifunctional participant who can function throughout quite a few midfield positions.
And if that’s the case, then we could also be seeing much more of Curtis Jones within the No. 6 function he occupied on this sport.
It’s not an unfamiliar place for the Scouser, who performed there for England U21s this summer season, and has the ball retention abilities, self-discipline and endurance to do job there.
It might definitely be useful to Jones’ probability of normal taking part in time to make himself an possibility as a holder, whereas something that may assist take the strain off a participant as younger as Lavia ought to he are available in could be a bonus.
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Nunez continues to excite
Sure, it could solely be pre-season, however it’s laborious to not get excited by what Nunez is displaying this summer season.
The Uruguayan took his purpose tally to 4 in three video games (with an help thrown in), with one of many easiest tap-ins he’s ever prone to be gifted.
However, as soon as once more, probably the most encouraging facet of his efficiency was a composure that seemed to be sorely missing throughout his struggles final season.
This was greatest summed up by the nonchalant flick over the goalkeeper that preceded a disallowed strike early within the first half, in addition to some eye-catching hyperlink play.
It might be a giant name for Klopp to disclaim the ahead a begin at Chelsea as issues stand.
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Mac Allister exhibits his high quality
If anybody is questioning why Liverpool moved to signal Alexis Mac Allister this summer season, then his first-half efficiency towards Leicester would work as a helpful riposte.
The Argentine’s management in tight areas and eye for a cross had been brilliantly showcased on this sport, with two of the Reds’ targets owing every little thing to these qualities.
He might begin on both facet of that double-eight midfield Klopp deploys, however the quantity on the again of Mac Allister’s shirt is a much better abstract of what he brings.
After this appetiser in Singapore, supporters ought to be very excited for him to deliver that creativity to aggressive video games going ahead.
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Szoboszlai makes case for set-piece involvement
Given the sheer high quality of his supply, it’ll take one thing particular for anybody to assert set-piece duties from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
However the Scouse defender now seems to have some significantly robust competitors within the type of summer season signing Dominik Szoboszlai.
It was the midfielder’s inch-perfect nook that teed up Liverpool’s fourth, and Joel Matip‘s celebration after his flick-on help appeared to recommend it was a pre-meditated routine.
It he makes a behavior of that, then we’ll on the very least absolutely see Andy Robertson relegated from second alternative within the set-piece stakes.
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Causes behind disappointing crowd
Followers watching from afar is not going to have failed to note that the Nationwide Stadium crowd didn’t maybe dwell as much as the same old expectations round Liverpool’s pre-season. The attendance, of 28,597, represented round half the stadium’s capability.
Nevertheless, there are a number of causes for that.
The primary is that the Reds are, after all, contesting two video games in fast succession in the identical vacation spot, which is mostly not the case when on tour.
The second is that tickets had been expensively priced, making a possible double-header unappealing even for probably the most ardent of supporters out in Singapore – and much more so for followers from close by nations which aren’t as prosperous as Singapore.
The third is that this can be a very uncommon event whereby Liverpool have returned to not solely the identical continent, however the identical nation and identical stadium in consecutive summers.
Thankfully, Wednesday’s sport towards Bayern Munich is anticipated to be near a sell-out, which ought to present a extra becoming backdrop for Klopp and his squad.
