Liverpool are set to take on Manchester City in the FA Community Shield this weekend, and Jurgen Klopp believes that the Reds are ready for the challenge.
Our pre-season tour of the US didn’t go as planned as only one of the four fixtures played over the pond didn’t result in a loss for the Reds.
Liverpool then moved on to their training camp in Evian to prepare for a friendly with French giants Lyon – which ended in a comfortable victory for the Redmen.
Klopp believes that this flick in the tail of our pre-season has prepared the squad to take on City this weekend. “City had a similar situation to us, a lot of players were not involved; it’s still a very good side together,” the manager told the club’s official site.
“Aguero is back since this week, a couple of Brazilians – I heard, I don’t know exactly – and Fernandinho are not back yet. They played a good pre-season, I would say, good games – much less than we did, I think only four games, so it’s different.
“But at the end that’s all not important, you have to be ready on Sunday, both of us. And how everybody knows, if you defend not on your highest level it could be difficult, even more difficult.
“You have no clue which line-up they will choose. I don’t think they have any clue which line-up we will choose. Of course, you can take their last game in Japan as a little information.
“They have quite a few options and I have really no idea, that makes it completely different. It’s always like that at the beginning of the season; so next week against Norwich we have no idea which team they will play probably.
“I’m happy with the week here because we made big steps. Every day we got fresher and fresher, so that helps. We knew a long [time] this game would happen and now we are here to prepare it and that’s what we did.”
The Reds are going to come up against a rampant City side this weekend as they’ll look to get one over their perceived rivals with the first chance of silverware this season.
Klopp will be desperate for Liverpool to continue their winning ways and deliver another honour to the fans – and hopefully we’ll be celebrating once the weekend is over!