Liverpool starts their Premier League campaign with a trip to the Emirates in a week’s time but the German manager at Anfield has scheduled as many pre-season matches as possible with the Liverpool squad playing Bundesliga outfit Mainz less than 24 hours after their game at Wembley against Barcelona in the International Champions Cup. But none of those travels will matter anymore for the players who managed to seal a thumping 4-0 victory over the Spanish Champions in front of the second largest gathering at Wembley for a football game.
Sadio Mane, Divock Origi, and Marko Grujic all managed to find the back of the net for the Reds while Javier Mascherano scored an own goal for his former team. This victory is a great morale booster for the English outfit who will enter the next season with loads of confidence. Here are 3 things we learnt from Liverpool’s 4-0 victory against Barcelona.
The transformation is almost complete
After Jurgen Klopp took over the Anfield outfit in the middle of the last season, he was not able to shrug off the former manager’s methods from the squad and struggled to impose himself almost till the end of the season. Though Liverpool produced some decent performances every once in a while, their shortcomings were often visible which cost them two cup finals.
However, in this game against Barcelona, the Liverpool of Brendan Rodgers was nowhere to be seen. The players were not contempt at keeping the ball and were going for the kill even when they were 3-0 up. The manager has taken his time on the squad that had plenty of additions in the transfer window and has now got them playing his own brand of football that was exciting to watch.
James Milner is not a left-back
With due respect to the experienced international, James Milner is not quite the answer for Liverpool’s left-back problems at the moment. Alberto Moreno looked his usual self at Wembley and though he did not really make huge mistakes, he was not the assured presence Liverpool need at the back.
But Milner is far from the answer. It was reported that the 31-year old was playing with a slight niggle and even if that was true, he was not a player who can be a part of the back-four. His discipline and technique with the ball make him a good fit in many positions but with loads of funds at his disposal and weeks of time in the transfer market, it will be a mistake if Klopp plays Milner at left-back for Liverpool next season.
Kevin Stewart the answer to Liverpool’s midfield problems?
It is a widely popular notion that Liverpool are still searching for a left-back (which is obvious) and also a defensive midfielder in the summer transfer window. The club has been linked with a number of names since the start of the window but they have not managed to get their hands on any of their targets. But with the likes of Emre Can, Jordan Henderson, James Milner (in his proper position) and the new boy Marko Grujic all expected to play in a similar role, there is loads of depth in the squad. And it now seems that they have even more cover in that position with Kevin Stewart.
The former Tottenham midfielder was impressive in his outings at the end of the previous season and has assumed an important place in Klopp’s pre-season squad ahead of the next campaign.
He was one of the first substitutes at Wembley, replacing Emre Can in the midfield and was superb throughout the game. He created the goal for Divock Origi with great presence of mind and also made a number of blocks and interceptions in dangerous areas making him a decent option for Klopp next season. If the manager cannot get his hands on a midfielder from now to the end of the season, Stewart is not such a bad option to have from the bench.
