Liverpool’s Pre-Season Plans Compared to Other Premier League Sides
As the start of the new Premier League season draws closer, Liverpool’s players are back in training and their first friendly of the summer is just a week away. With pre-season preparations underway, how do the Reds’ plans compare to other Premier League sides?
Man United and Man City: Different Approaches
Manchester United and Manchester City have taken different approaches to pre-season this summer. United have eight friendlies lined up, while City have just three friendlies plus the Community Shield.
Liverpool’s Calmer Pre-Season
After last summer’s failed pre-season, something Jurgen Klopp admitted earlier in the year, Liverpool’s pre-season looks a lot calmer than previous summers. The Reds will play just five games, which is fewer than usual, and partake only in games while in Germany and Singapore, then back in England at Deepdale. Four of their opponents are German sides, indicating that Klopp has had a very hands on approach to how pre-season is run, returning to Singapore and opting not to go to the USA.
Liverpool’s Pre-Season Dates
July 19 – vs. Karlsruher
July 24 – vs. Greuther Furth
July 30 – vs. Leicester
August 2 – vs. Bayern
August 7 – vs. Darmstadt (Deepdale)
Comparing Pre-Season Plans Across the Premier League
By the time Liverpool line up against Karlsruher next Wednesday, Arsenal will already have played two of their seven games (when counting the Community Shield). But other rivals, such as Tottenham and Chelsea, only have five friendlies planned like Liverpool. Newcastle, though, are taking in seven warm-up games. Meanwhile, teams like Brighton, Fulham and Wolves currently have only four games planned. Burnley have just ONE friendly scheduled despite returning to pre-season training over a month ago, on June 5. New boys Luton have just three games currently lined up.
Klopp’s Reflection on Last Summer’s Pre-Season
Liverpool’s preparations last summer were pretty dismal, underlined by a 4-0 defeat to Man United in their first friendly of the summer in Bangkok – a bizarre decision at the time and even more so with hindsight. Klopp admitted as much in January, saying: “Would I do anything differently? I wouldn’t go, in the first week, to Asia. Not because Asia is not great, but I would go to Asia in the third week, or something like that, but it was not in really in our hands. Is that the reason? No, I don’t think so. But would it have been better to do it differently? Yes. We learn from these kind of things, but in the end we have to deal with them.” The Reds played six games last summer, including one vs. Strasbourg at Anfield the day after the Community Shield which saw a very youthful side named in a 3-0 defeat.
Hope for a Better Pre-Season This Time Around
Klopp has clearly taken steps to ensure that this summer’s pre-season is better than last year’s. With fewer games and a more focused approach, Liverpool will be hoping for a successful pre-season that sets them up for a successful season ahead. Let’s hope the adjusted approach pays off this season!