Liverpool continued their pre-season preparations with a friendly match against Championship side Preston on Friday. Despite a 1-0 loss, the result should not be a cause for concern as the team is still in the early stages of their preparation, and Preston had already played four friendlies this summer.
What is more intriguing is the lineup and combinations that manager Jurgen Klopp used during the game. In the first half, Klopp fielded a side that closely resembled his strongest lineup. Young goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros was behind a back four consisting of Conor Bradley, Sepp van den Berg, Jarell Quansah, and Kostas Tsimikas. Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, and Dominik Szoboszlai started in midfield, with Ben Doak, Fabio Carvalho, and Mohamed Salah in the attack.
Liverpool’s biggest threats in the game were Doak, Salah, and Elliott. However, it was Preston midfielder Robbie Brady who scored the only goal of the game, lobbing the ball from 40 yards after stealing it in Liverpool’s half.
Szoboszlai was substituted soon after the goal, with Wataru Endo taking his place. Endo was the only player retained after half-time. The second half saw a mix of more senior players like Nat Phillips and Tyler Morton, along with young talents like Harvey Davies, Luca Stephenson, Amara Nallo, Luke Chambers, Lewis Koumas, and Kaide Gordon.
Despite dominating the game, Liverpool had few genuine opportunities to score. Nevertheless, the match served as a valuable exercise for Klopp and his staff as they continue their preparations for their upcoming tour of the United States. Many of the players who featured in this game will be included in the squad for matches against Real Betis, Arsenal, and Manchester United.
Interestingly, there were some notable absences from the lineup. Caoimhin Kelleher, who has not been seen in training recently, did not feature in the game. Jayden Danns and Andy Robertson also missed out. It had been speculated that Liverpool might play more than one behind-closed-doors friendly before their trip to the United States, but this seems unlikely now as they are scheduled to travel on Tuesday.
Overall, despite the defeat, Liverpool’s friendly against Preston provided valuable playing time for the squad and allowed Klopp to assess different combinations of players. The focus now shifts to their upcoming tour, where they will face tough opponents in Real Betis, Arsenal, and Manchester United.