Liverpool will take on Manchester City in the Community Shield this Sunday before they take on newly-promoted Norwich City on the opening day of the new Premier League campaign.
Stephen Warnock has warned Liverpool that Jurgen Klopp will endure his toughest season yet at Anfield because of what he got to ‘deal with’.
The likes of Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Alisson Becker have made a late return to pre-season because of international commitments, with Liverpool’s season seemingly beginning this Sunday when they take on Manchester City in the Community Shield.
Added with that, the Reds’ pre-season results and performances haven’t exactly been going to plan, and they are yet to make a major signing this summer.
Speaking to the Monday Night Club on BBC Radio 5 Live (29/07/2019 at 9:40 pm), former Reds defender Warnock claimed that Liverpool’s front three will be worried about the lack of signings.
“I think this season is going to be the toughest one for Jurgen Klopp because of what he’s got to deal with,” Warnock told BBC Radio 5 Live. “After winning the Champions League then having the difficulties of having players away at the Copa America and the Africa Nations, how does he manage these players coming back?
“Salah, Firmino and Alisson came back on Monday. Are they going to be fit enough to play on Sunday? If you come back and you’re straight into the games, you don’t get a base for your fitness. You’re just playing game to game. And you will go down because you haven’t got that strength. Whether that will be in October or November time, or January, February time, they are going to drop in their standards. Else, why do you have a pre-season?
“I think that’ll be the worry as well if you were one of those three players [Mane, Firmino or Salah] all being away and you’re thinking ‘there’s no-one coming in, we are not getting any help here’. So, it’s the lads who were in the squad last year, and are they capable of doing it for 10-15 games on the bounce?”
It is understandable that after a gruelling campaign last season, which didn’t end until the start of June, that some of the Liverpool players will feel it in their legs ahead of the new campaign, especially those who played in major tournaments this summer.
One huge positive for a team like Liverpool, who have to play a lot of football, is that England’s top-flight, for the first time, is introducing a winter break this season.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
