Jurgen Klopp has confirmed Liverpool will extend their pre-season into the start of the league campaign itself with a fixture booked against Aston Villa a day after the opening clash against Fulham.
The German’s words were relayed on Twitter by the Echo’s chief writer for the Reds with it being noted that the tie itself will be played behind closed doors.
Klopp confirms #LFC will play another friendly the day after the opening Premier League game against Fulham on Saturday week. Understood to be Aston Villa behind closed doors 🔴
— Ian Doyle (@IanDoyleSport) July 28, 2022
This comes as the club have handed an extended summer break to some stars following what was a gruelling 2021/22 term, which included 63 games (not accounting for international commitments).
It’s a plan that has sadly invited a negative reaction in some quarters, though one we entirely trust to be the right decision given the heavy demands our squad was subjected to recently – not to mention the reality of a World Cup in winter to consider.
Ultimately, with the five-sub rule coming into play, it now becomes critical that sides don’t just have their first-XI fit and ready to go from the first day of the season; the full squad needs to be capable of rotating in and out on demand and to a high standard.
As such, any who are given a limited number of minutes (or none) against the Cottagers will likely heavily feature in the following tie against the Villans on Sunday 7th August.
‘Ultimately, with the five-sub rule coming into play, it now becomes critical that sides don’t just have their first-XI fit and ready to go from the first day of the season; the full squad needs to be capable of rotating in and out on demand and to a high standard.’
Except they aren’t fit on the first day…. this friendly is the day after when they are already supposed to be fit. Can’t wait for your revisionist articles when one of those playing gets an injury from this friendly
Or alternatively Jack when one isn’t match fit enough to contribute? As Klopp said because of our success there isn’t enough time for the players to rest and have a proper preseason because we ended later than everybody else and with Community shield we begin earlier than everybody else.
Very uneducated blinkered viewpoint – away with your faux outrage