RB SALZBURG VS LIVERPOOL: PREVIEW

After defeating Leipzig in Germany last week, Liverpool travelled to Austria for their training camp. The Reds have spent five days being drilled hard by Jürgen Klopp as they seek to finalise preparations ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

It’s been all about the training this week, 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 and team bonding exercises.

They went fishing yesterday and it was lovely to see the whole squad and staff enjoying each other’s company (it made for some brilliant pictures). Moments like this, irrelevant as it may seem to some, are crucial to building team spirit.

When the going gets tough during the season, you want the team fighting for each other out there, something that’s only possible with a good team spirit. There’s also been the initiation night where new squad players and staff members perform infront of the rest of the team.

All in all it looks to have been a successful camp so far, and it will all be capped off with a match tomorrow night. RB Salzburg will host Klopp’s charges at the Red Bull Arena, Salzburg (kickoff at 7pm BST).

The Community Shield against Manchester City looms large on the horizon, with the Reds taking on the Citizens at the King Power stadium just three days after this fixture. The manager went strong against Leipzig and will likely do same again here.

Seven members of the first team squad got an hour under their belts in the 5-0 victory, with a further four playing 45 minutes. We will likely see some (if not most) play the full game tomorrow night, marking the first 90 minute outing of the summer.

Salzburg on the other hand have already kick-started their season. They beat SV Fuegen 3-0 in the Austrian Cup almost a fortnight ago, before defeating Austria Wien by the same scoreline in their opening league match on Friday.

That result took them top on goal difference, and they travel to Sturm Graz next – three days after they tangle with Jürgen Klopp’s Reds. They should prove a tough test as they are at a different stage in terms of fitness.

These two sides sides met in a pre-season friendly two summers ago, with a brace apiece from Patson Daka and Rhian Brewster settling a keenly contested match 2-2. A similar close contest is expected here.

Team News

Diogo Jota and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are both out with hamstring injuries. Alisson Becker is still not ready after sustaining an abdominal injury, with the manager saying he is close to a return. Hopefully he’s ready for the Community Shield as Kelleher is also out.

There won’t be a belated debut for Scottish youngster Calvin Ramsay. The Scottish youngster was left out of the Asian tour due to injury. He’s been part of this training camp but is still not fit enough to feature.

The players have been worked extremely hard this week so it’s possible one or two could miss out with knocks, aches and pains. It is still pre-season so no risks will be taken.

Predicted XI:

Adrian, Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Keita, Thiago, Salah, Nunez, Diaz.