Opposition analysis: Liverpool
Friendly against Liverpool on 21st July | A number of world-class players including star Salah | Biggest summer signing is Darwin Núñez | Reunion with Keïta and Konaté | Thursday's game to be streamed live on our Facebook page
It doesn’t get much better in pre-season! One of the world’s best teams in Liverpool will visit Leipzig for a friendly on Thursday, 21st July (19:15 CEST). There will be a livestream of the match on our Facebook page available in selected countries including USA and India. Let’s take a closer look at Liverpool before the game. Here’s our opposition analysis:
Current form:
The Reds are without a doubt one of the best sides in world football currently. Over the last seven years, coach Jürgen Klopp has transformed Liverpool into a fantastic side. They have finished in the top three of the Premier League in each of the last four seasons, having won the title in 2020 for the first time in 30 years. They also lifted the Champions League trophy in 2019 after defeating Tottenham Hotspur in the final.
Liverpool finished 2021/22 in second place, just a point behind league winners Manchester City. That was despite remaining unbeaten in the Premier League in 2022. Despite that disappointment, Klopp’s team still won two domestic trophies in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup.
RBL vs. Liverpool - The Third Edition
Liverpool’s pre-season got off to a bumpy start, when they lost 4-0 to rivals Manchester United in Thailand. Coach Klopp, however, heavily rotated his side and changed the team entirely for the second half. In their second friendly against Premier League rivals Crystal Palace last Friday, the Reds came away 2-0 winners.
Squad:
Key players:
It’s not easy to highlight specific key players from their star-studded line-up, but the Egyptian King Mo Salah stands out. The 30-year-old forward played 35 times in the league last season and was directly involved in 37 goals. His 23 goals were enough to give him the Golden Boot, along with Spurs’ Son Heung-min. Although the Reds lost Sadio Mané to FC Bayern, they still have enormous quality at the top of the pitch. Colombian Luis Diaz and Portuguese star Diogo Jota give Klopp’s side real fire power in the wide areas. Former Hoffenheimer Roberto Firmino, who can be a bit injury prone at times, often finds himself on the bench.
Liverpool have also acquired a huge talent this summer, in the form of centre-forward Darwin Núñez. The Uruguay international was a goal machine for Benfica in the Portuguese top flight last season.
On top of all the quality at the top of the pitch, the Reds also have real strength at the back. Central defender Virgil van Dijk and right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold are amongst the best in the world in their respective positions. The same also goes for goalkeeper Alisson. They also have real stability in defensive midfield, in the form of Fabinho and captain Jordan Henderson.
However, Diogo Jota and Alisson are likely to miss the game due to injuries.
Miscellaneous:
Thursday will also see the return of two familiar faces: Naby Keïta and Ibrahima Konaté. Keïta moved to Liverpool from the Red Bulls back in 2018 and Konaté made the move from Leipzig to Merseyside back in 2021. Thursday’s friendly was agreed as part of Keïta’s transfer back in 2018. Our former men aren’t always in Liverpool’s starting XI, but they are likely to feature in this week’s friendly. Thiago and Joel Matip, who both have Bundesliga experience, could also feature.
Péter Gulácsi spent six years at Liverpool at the start of his career.
Coach:
It’s fair to say that Jürgen Klopp needs no introduction. The 55-year-old was named FIFA World Coach of the Year in 2019 and 2020 and was named Premier League Manager of the Season this year. Klopp has won major titles in Germany and in England, including the Bundesliga, the Premier League, the Champions League and other European cups and super cups. He has managed Liverpool 379 times in all competitions, with a whopping 2.09 points per game.
Although he has been a head coach for over 20 years, Klopp has only been at three clubs: Mainz 05, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool and has, incredibly, never been sacked.
Previous meetings:
Liverpool and Leizpig have faced-off on two previous occasions. The English club won both legs of the 2021 Champions League quarterfinal 2-0.