Liverpool defeated VfB Stuttgart 3-0 in their first pre-season friendly of the 2020/21 season at the Saalfelden Arena in Austria.
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Story of the game
A strong Liverpool line-up started the game and found themselves in front on 15 minutes after a smart piece of play from Curtis Jones on the left saw him pick out Roberto Firmino who tapped in from close range to give the Reds their first goal of the season.
Five minutes from the interval the Premier League champions doubled their lead as Firmino turned provider with a stupendous backheel into the path of an on-rushing Naby Keita who finished coolly past Gregor Kobel in net.
Liverpool fans have become accustomed to Klopp using two different sides in pre-season and this game was no different.
As part of the second half line-up we saw the likes of Harvey Elliot, Rhian Brewster and debutant Kostas Tsimikas feature for the Reds.
On 68 minutes, Rhian Brewster, fresh from a successful loan spell at Swansea, grabbed his first goal of the new season after blasting home a squared pass from James Milner.
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Key takeaways from the match
Curtis Jones and Neco Williams
The academy graduates both started the game in what was considered the ‘stronger’ line-up of the two which may indicate the role the pair will play for the Reds this season.
With the uncertain financial market, Jürgen Klopp has confessed the club may need to look in-house for new players to enter the first team squad and after impressing at the back-end of the season, Jones and Williams look more than ready to make the transition from academy player to squad player for the upcoming league campaign.
The Reds look good
Having only been in training for last week, Klopp’s men look extremely sharp as they continue their preparations for the new season. Some of the counter-pressing at times today was frightening and leaves the impression that the players are hungrier than ever to taste gold come May.
With the likes of Brewster and Grujic returning from their respective loan spells, Klopp may have a bit of a headache as looks to trim down his squad ready for Premier League action on September 12th against Leeds United at Anfield.
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What's next for Liverpool?
The Reds travel to the Red Bull Arena on Tuesday evening to face Jesse Marsch’s RB Salzburg as they ramp up their preparations for the new Premier League season. Klopp’s side beat the Austrian champions 2-0 in Group E of the UEFA Champions League last season courtesy of goals from Naby Keita and Mohamed Salah.
Four days later, the Reds travel to the capital to face Mikel Arteta's Arsenal in the FA Community Shield as they seek revenge following the Gunners' 2-1 victory over Klopp's Liverpool last month.
