Liverpool’s time in Singapore has come to an in depth, with loads to study from the worldwide legs of their pre-season preparations this summer season.
The Reds closed off their journey to the Far East with a 4-3 defeat to Bayern Munich, which got here after a 4-0 victory over Championship facet Leicester.
Whereas the end result might not have been excellent, the main focus for Jurgen Klopp and his gamers can have been broader, with pre-season by no means exhibiting the completed product.
As an alternative, it’s a time for fine-tuning in lots of areas and experimentation in others – and it could solely be now, as Liverpool fly to Merseyside, that issues streamline.
Klopp’s squad will return to the AXA Coaching Centre on Friday, earlier than taking up Darmstadt of their closing pleasant on Monday, with Chelsea the opponents because the Premier League kicks off on August 13.
With that in thoughts, listed here are 5 issues we will take away from Liverpool’s tour of Singapore.
Salah the one assured starter in assault
All through pre-season up to now, Klopp has shared out the minutes all through his squad – with that no totally different between the 5 senior forwards at his disposal.
The ultimate pleasant in Singapore gave extra of a sign as to his plans for the journey to Chelsea on August 13, although there have been few giveaways when it got here to his ahead line.
Mohamed Salah was the one attacker to play greater than 45 minutes – with Cody Gakpo clocking an hour on the pitch however shifting to midfield at half-time – which suggests, unsurprisingly, he’s first alternative.
However past the Egyptian, there aren’t any ensures which of Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz will begin at Stamford Bridge.
It’s removed from a problem, although, as all 4 of these gamers have been on fireplace in pre-season – with the supervisor boasting two elite, very totally different choices each on the left and up entrance.
Doak seems to be prepared
He might not be a contender to start out at this stage, however pre-season up to now has proven Ben Doak to be a real possibility for Liverpool heading into the brand new marketing campaign.
His outings in opposition to Leicester and Bayern in Singapore solely magnified this, with the younger Scot not cowering below the problem of high quality opposition.
There may be loads to work on for Doak, after all, specifically in his closing ball – as proven with a crossed drilled too closely into Nunez within the defeat to Bayern.
However his tenacity, tempo and talent on the fitting flank may make him a helpful different to Salah in sure video games, and extra from the bench.
Doak might not be the one teen to have earned larger publicity together with his efforts within the Far East, both, with Bobby Clark and Jarell Quansah amongst these to have additionally impressed.
Mac Allister may settle faster than Szoboszlai
It will be flawed to attract conclusions on both of Liverpool’s new signings at this stage, however because it stands, it seems to be extra seemingly that Alexis Mac Allister establishes himself from the off.
A lot will rely, after all, on his response to a blow to the knee in opposition to Bayern, however the perception is that it was a minor subject.
The Argentine’s capacity to knit midfield and assault was most evident within the 4-0 thrashing of Leicester, exhibiting he might be a invaluable participant on this new system.
Dominik Szoboszlai, in the meantime, has proven flashes of the standard that satisfied Klopp and his employees that he was price a £60 million outlay, however his function within the facet is, as but, much less outlined.
Each might be very important to Liverpool’s growth within the coming months, however maybe extra may very well be anticipated of the No. 10 early on.
Jones is our No. 6…for now
It had been hoped that Liverpool would finalise a deal for Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia earlier than the journey to Singapore, however they now return with no progress made.
The membership seem to have dallied with negotiations over the Belgian teenager, with a second bid solely touchdown on Tuesday – to be promptly rejected.
Whereas they contemplate an ongoing pursuit of Lavia together with new curiosity in Fluminense’s Andre, an in-house resolution has been discovered within the No. 6 function.
Fabinho and Jordan Henderson have each left, Thiago, Stefan Bajcetic and Tyler Morton are all injured, leaving Curtis Jones to start out within the place in opposition to each Leicester and Bayern.
Even when a signing is made between now and the conflict with Chelsea, the 22-year-old has proven the maturity and appreciation of house to fill in for now – although might not be a long-term repair.
Acquainted considerations with the defence
There have been no modifications to Liverpool’s defensive ranks up to now this summer season, and it appears as if the identical flaws are persisting.
Although Jones’ on-ball work has been a optimistic, Fabinho‘s swap to Al Ittihad has left much more of a void by way of shielding the defence.
With no new centre-back signing secured but, Klopp’s first-choice again line stays Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson.
However with Alexander-Arnold shifting into midfield in possession, there’s a requirement for Robertson to play as a centre-back and Konate to cowl two positions price of house.
In opposition to Bayern, the significance of Konate was laid clear as Joel Matip failed to supply the pace or physicality wanted as proper centre-back, whereas on the opposite flank, Robertson was misplaced between roles as he nonetheless regarded to drive forwards.
4 extra objectives conceded makes it 10 shipped in 4 video games this pre-season, and with just one pleasant left to play, there’s structural work to do as Liverpool return to Merseyside.
