Liverpool 1-0 Mainz 05: As It Happened

That's all from me, folks!

For more pre-season coverage keep an eye across our social media and VAVEL.com :) 

 

The late own-goal from Luca Kilian was all that seperated the two sides today. A game that was very stop start in intensity as you come to expect for these pre-season friendlies. 

A lot of positives for both sides and another good work out for Jurgen Klopp's players. 

Next up is another German opposition in Hertha Berlin next Thursday!

Billy Koumetio clears from point blank range to deny Mainz a tap in. Superb defending from the Lyon born centre-half. 

Finally we have a goal!

No man in Red put the ball in the net this time though as a wicked ball from Owen Beck was put into his own net by Luca Kilian. 

Origi feels he's fouled in the Mainz box but the referee waves away any appeal. 

Seen them given but would be very, very soft. 

Mainz work a corner perfectly, dunking the ball to the edge of the box to set up a first time volley but substitute goalkeeper, Adrian, was on hand to tip the strike over his bar.

Mainz had a three v two but the delayed pass allowed the Reds to regroup with men behind the ball and force the corner. 

The 27 degree heat means a drinks break is in order.

The heat and the wholesale changes has meant the intensity has dropped off quite a bit in the second half. 

Here's to hoping the fluids the players take on gives them that extra bit of energy to put on a show in the final 20 minutes.

A long ball over the top saw Origi through on goal but the linesman judged the Belgium attacker to be just offside. 

Origi shows terrific pace down the left but his final ball let him down as it trickled away from a free Curtis Jones and in to the path of a thankful Dominik Kohr.

Just a case of the 11 new players on the pitch finding their feet in the opening stages. 

16-year-old Kaide Gordon looking the most exciting of the substitutes, thus far. 

Just the Reds who have heavily rotated and ready for 45 minutes of action in front of the 3,000 strong Austrian crowd. 

The LFC XI to face Mainz in the second half: Adrian, N. Williams, Phillips, Koumetio, Beck, Clarkson, Gordon, Morton, Jones, Minamino, Origi

0-0 at the break.

Liverpool look the better of the two sides but Mainz showing fight and organisation at the back to cope with the Reds' overlapping runs. 

Keita has been brilliant this half and is showing fans exactly what he can bring to the table when he is fully fit. 

Quick feet in the middle and mazing attacking runs have been a constant today. 

Keita plays through Oxlade-Chamberlain on the left but a drop of the shoulder shot from the Englishmen was stopped well by the Mainz shot stopper and forced out for a corner. 

Not one of Trent's best...

Fires high and wide over Robin Zentner's net.

Mane wins a free kick just outside the box.

Perfect chance for an Alexander-Arnold screamer!

🇪🇬 @MoSalah 👑 pic.twitter.com/DdEYURADM1 — Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 23, 2021

Salah cuts the ball back to Sadio Mane 8 yards from goal but the flucky deflected shot crept just wide of the Mainz post. 

The German outfit launch a long-throw in to the box which was met by a Mainz head but again Kelleher was on hand to deny the headed effort. 

Quarter of the way through the game and we've stopped for a quick drinks break.

Might grab some water myself!

Mainz work the ball well down the right again and 

Daniel Brosinski shoots from range but Caoimhin Kelleher catches the tame effort with ease. 

Aside from today's action it seems Xherdan Shaqiri is enjoying his holiday's and not tuning into LFCTV for the match. 

Who knows, maybe he's getting live updates from VAVEL.com!

😎😍🇨🇭❤️ pic.twitter.com/xwO4IA4LNA

— Xherdan Shaqiri (@XS_11official) July 23, 2021

Dangerous looking ball from Brosinski on the Mainz right but Konate was there in the middle to clear for a corner. 

Mainz through on goal but the linesman raises his flag early for a clear offside 

Mane has looked on form so far in the opening stages as he showcases his excellent pace running in-behind the Mainz defence. 

Chance for Mainz as a lofted cross was controlled nicely by Paul Nebel but his shot hit James Milner in the opposition box and the midfielder was able to clear with ease. 

Ibrahima Konaté showing his age a little as Mainz break down the right and instead of sitting deep, the Frenchman commited and found himself in no-mans land. Luckily nothing of note from the attack. 

Liverpool have had all the ball in the opening stages of the game, predominantly down the right with Mohamed Salah and Harvey Elliot. 

We're underway here in Austria!

Joel Matip: "It's a good team we're playing against, we have to be prepared to give 100%. They can play and we have some tough weeks but this is a training camp, it's what it's for and we have to get adapted to circumstances and to the game." #awlive [lfctv] — Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) July 23, 2021

The Senegalese international has been speaking to LFCTV this week and was brutally honest about his form last season. 

 

“It was not my best season which I know. Like I always said, it can happen in football but I think it won’t be the same [next] season.

For sure, I am more ready, mentally, physically, everything, so I think it will be for myself an exciting season.” 

💫 𝐒𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐭 💫#LFCPreSeason pic.twitter.com/W9JMpfOFhE

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 23, 2021

There seems to be a want from the manager to see how Harvey Elliot shapes up in the midfield three and some LFC fans have noted it may be down to his lack of pace on the wing. 

Harvey Elliot got the work rate and technical ability to play as an 8. Him on the wings would not make sense at all, due to his lack of pace.

— ~ (@TheLfcKop) July 23, 2021

Klopp spoke to LFCTV prior to kick-off

"Jota, just in case. He is here [for] one day. If we have to do something, a couple of minutes, he could probably play. Robbo did his lactate test today, from tomorrow on he can be a proper part of our training sessions."

The charismatic German managed Mainz for 7 seasons between the year 2001-08 and clearly, despite being away for such a long time, still has many friends at the club. 

It’s always great to see old friends 🤝#Mainz05 #M05LFC @LFC pic.twitter.com/yNwCje86FI

— Mainz 05 English (@Mainz05en) July 23, 2021

Looks as though Jurgen Klopp has gone with Harvey Elliot as part of the midfield three today.

Oxlade-Chamberlain given another opportunity to gain match experience in the false nine role. 

Ben Davies not part of the #LFC squad today after returning home for a "personal matter". The defender's absence is not linked to a transfer and he is expected to return to Austria for the remainder of the camp. — David Lynch (@dmlynch) July 23, 2021

Liverpool XI: Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Matip, Tsimikas, Milner, Keita, Elliott, Mane, Salah, Oxlade-Chamberlain.

 

Subs: Adrian, Karius, H. Davies, Jones, Minamino, Jota, Origi, Phillips, Gordon, Beck, Cain, Clarkson, N. Williams, Morton, Bradley, Koumetio.

That's all for now but we will be back shortly before kick off with more pre-match build up, analysis and team news!

Liverpool last played Mainz in a 2016 friendly which saw Klopp's men lose 4-0 to the German side. 

 

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Divock Origi and Joel Matip all started the game and all three are expected to start for the Reds today.  

To watch every kick, the game is available exclusively to LFCTV and LFCTV GO in the UK.

For LIVE match updates online, you can watch it with us at VAVEL.com 

 

Mainz have a 29-man squad at their disposal and will probably, much like their opponents, opt to field two different teams in either half.

 

Predicted team: Finn Dahmen; Jeremiah St. Juste, Stefan Bell, Moussa Niakhate; Dominik Kohr; Kevin Stoger, Leandro Barreiro, Jean-Paul Boetius, Daniel Brosinski; Karim Onisiwo, Adam Szalai

As with most pre-season outings for the Reds, expect Klopp to make numerous changes at the interval. 

Virgil van Dijk & Joe Gomez are not expcted to be risked for the game. 

 

LFC are thought to line up in their usual 4-3-3 formation. 

 

Predicted team: Adrian; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Rhys Williams, Konstantinos Tsimikas; James Milner, Naby Keita, Harvey Elliott; Sadio Mane, Divock Origi, Takumi Minamino

Liverpool face Athletic Bilbao and Osasuna a week after returning to their base in Kirkby. The two Spanish opponents will face the Reds in front of an expected sell-out. 

 

75% of the stadium will be open, meaning a crowd of 40,000 will fill the Anfield seats for the first time in over 500 days.  

Embed from Getty Images

After today's game against Jurgen Klopp's old team, the Reds will face another German opponent in the form of Hertha Berlin. The game, due to be played in the Tivoli Stadion Tirol, will be the last of the four pre-season games in Austria.

Despite being the Reds' third game of pre-season, it will be the first 90 minute clash of the season. 

The first two games, both played on Tuesday, saw Klopp's team test themselves in the Austrian heat for an intense 30-minute outing. 

Today's clash between Liverpool and Mainz 05 comes to you from the home of SV Grödig and FC Liefering, the Untersberg-Arena. The stadium is located in the city of Innsbruck in Grödig, Austria and is around half an hour from LFC's training base in Salzburg. 

 

 

(Photo Courtesy of Simon Clark - Untersberg Arena, SV Grodig)

 

My name is Adam Doyle and I’ll be your live host for this game. We will provide you with pre-game analysis, score updates, and news as it happens live here on VAVEL.com