RB LEIPZIG VS LIVERPOOL: PREVIEW

It’s been a couple of days on Merseyside for the Liverpool squad, after a whirlwind Asia tour that took in Thailand and Singapore. Jürgen Klopp has been able to put his men through their paces at the AXA Training Centre.

There’s been no media duties or public appearances to keep sponsors happy, with the manager and his coaching staff utilising this period to whip the squad into shape. This has been a week of intense double sessions as they look to set a base for the entirety of the campaign.

The Reds will cap the week off with a short trip to Germany, to face Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig at the Red Bull Arena tomorrow night (18:15 BST). This is Liverpool’s third game of pre-season as they hit the halfway point of their preparations towards the new campaign.

The Community Shield against Manchester City looms large on the horizon as well, with the Reds taking on the Citizens at the King Power stadium in just ten days time. As such, we can expect to see a step up in intensity and minutes for the players.

A number of the first team squad have only gotten a pair of thirty minute outings under their belts so far, with a few getting 45 last time out. We should see that figure rise to an hour at the very least tomorrow night.

We should also see more evidence of the intricate buildup plays as well as the complex tactical shapes they’ve been working on in training. All against an opponent that will also come out to play and not just sit back.

For Leipzig, this is their second pre-season fixture (they defeated Southampton 3-1 on Saturday). Die Roten Bullen have an extra week of training in their legs having reported on 26th June. This is their final game before they kickstart their season against Bayern for the German Super Cup.

It should be a good game tomorrow night, with both sides eager to get on the ball and dictate proceedings. Domenico Tedesco’s men, led by the supremely talented Christopher Nkunku, will be a good test before the Reds fly out to Austria for their training camp.

Team News

Diogo Jota and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are both out with hamstring injuries. Alisson Becker has been struggling with an abdominal injury and is unlikely to be risked. Joe Gomez should be fit after he was left out of the Palace game as a precaution.

There is yet no word on Calvin Ramsay’s fitness. The Scottish youngster was left out of the Asian tour after his medical picked up a previously undetected injury. We should still see the gaffer pick a strong side however, with several members of the squad itching to make their mark.

It is yet another opportunity to catch a glimpse of new signings Carvalho and Nunez. Darwin in particular has strangely caught some flak despite the fact he’s only been training with the side for a week. The internet can be a very strange place at times.

The Uruguayan has shown signs of building an understanding with Mo Salah in particular, as he tries to integrate into the side. He offers something completely different to what we’ve been used to in the past few years.

He doesn’t drop deep to create space for the wide forwards like Firmino does. He plays on the shoulder of the defence, constantly looking to run in behind. In time, his style and the team’s will mesh well together to give teams another threat to worry about.

Predicted XI:

Adrian, Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Elliott, Thiago, Salah, Nunez, Diaz.