Recently, Liverpool played against another German team during their pre-season matches. SV Darmstadt 98 came to Deepdale to face The Kop. This was the final friendly match for a Premier League team this season. Unfortunately, Liverpool lost their previous game 3-4 to Bayern Munich. On the other hand, Darmstadt struggled to score in all four of their pre-season games.

Before the match:

Liverpool faced a challenge without two key players, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, and ended up conceding 4 goals to Bayern. However, their attack proved to be strong. Possibly, the weakened defense cost Liverpool as they are allowed 4 goals against Karlsruher SC before scoring 4 goals against Greuther Furth. Liverpool also impressed in Singapore when they defeated Leicester City 4-0.

Clearly, Liverpool should not worry about scoring but rather focus on playing solid defense. This is especially important as the Premier League is about to begin, starting with a match against Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea.

On the other hand, Darmstadt is set to return to the Bundesliga after 6 years in Bundesliga 2. Despite their promotion last season, their pre-season performance has not instilled confidence in their fans. They lost 0-1 to Norwich City and 0-2 to FC Giessen, and only managed scoreless draws against Karlsruher and SV Sandhausen.

Important Information:

During the defeat to Bayern, some observers saw Alexis Mac Allister being forced off at half-time due to a knee bump. However, Klopp has that the Argentinian only experienced mild pain and is able to continue starting.

Coach Klopp has only one match left to adjust personnel, so it is likely that he will field the strongest squad.

Meanwhile, Darmstadt’s trio Emir Karic, Jannik Muller, and Frank Ronstadt are all recovering from injuries, while attacking defensive pair Aaron Seydel and Oscar Vilhemsson are encountering mechanical issues.

Probable Teams:

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Jones, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Diaz

SV Darmstadt 98: Schuhen; Klarer, Zimmermann, Maglica; Bader, Gjasula, Nurnberger, Netherlands; Mehlem, Honsak; American Checkers

Forecast:

Even the most optimistic supporters of Darmstadt can hardly hope for a victory against Liverpool’s formidable attack. Klopp’s team has quarreled with defense in recent months and is missing some key players. However, a win would boost Liverpool’s morale as they prepare for the new season.