Jurgen Klopp gave Liverpool’s players two days off following the Athletic Bilbao win in Dublin – but the squad is now back preparing for clashes against Watford in the Premier League and Hoffenheim in the Champions League.
Adam Lallana and Nathaniel Clyne are guaranteed absentees through injury, while Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge and Jordan Henderson are desperately trying to get fit in time for the weekend.
The boss has claimed that the next few days will be spent getting his squad in peak physical condition while trying to predict Watford’s style and tactics for our trip to Vicarage Road.
Their new boss is Marco Silva, whose Hull side beat us last term. He’s known for deploying his teams sensibly against attacking sides and we’ll do very well to leave with three points – especially as it’s an early kick-off – something we traditionally find difficult.
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“We have to get a little bit of fresh legs back, but that will happen,” Klopp told the Echo.
“Tactical things – we’ll have an exact look at what Watford will ask of us system-wise and things like this; preparation and preparation.
“We will be prepared and hopefully it’s good enough to win.
“I’m excited. I’ve been looking forward to the first game since we started pre-season. I’m not the best in pre-season – I’m not very patient. I’m happy that we can start.”
It’ll be fantastic for Liverpool fans to stop worrying about the transfer market, in all honesty – although until Virgil van Dijk’s future is sorted – it’ll continue to be on our mind until September!
Klopp says he’s happy with his defensive options, especially now Alberto Moreno has proved he perhaps has a future, but if the Dutchman is available (and his transfer request suggests he might be) Liverpool will surely go all out to secure him.
A window that doesn’t include a top centre-back arriving will be a travesty, based on last season’s shortcomings.