Predicted Liverpool XI for pre-season friendly vs Mainz

Liverpool tackle Mainz at the moment of their third (we guess?) pre-season pleasant of the summer time.

After two separate 30-minute video games in opposition to Wacker Innsbruck and Stuttgart on Tuesday, the Reds can have their first correct run out of the pre-season camp at 5.15 pm.

It’s nearly unimaginable to foretell what sort of group that Jurgen Klopp will put out in opposition to his outdated facet.

Often, in pre-season, we see one set of 11 play the primary half and a very new facet play the second half.

So, we’ll strive, and doubtless fail, to foretell what these two XI’s can be.

Whereas Liverpool may presumably play their “finest” group in a single half and a “weaker” facet within the different, we’ll assume that the coaches will go for 2 even sides.

Predicted Liverpool first-half XI vs Mainz

Beginning off in objectives, Caoimhin Kelleher is match to play after a knock saved him out of Tuesday’s matches. We expect he’ll go straight in after impressing in coaching.

At right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold needs to be match to begin this one. He performed the “simpler” of the 2 video games earlier within the week so can be prepared for the subsequent 45 minutes of his comeback.

Nat Phillips was neglected of Tuesday’s video games as he continues to be linked to a transfer away. He has skilled since then so we predict that he’ll function in opposition to Mainz.

We expect that Ibou Konate will associate him. The Frenchman is not any stranger to Mainz having performed them quite a few instances in the previous few seasons.

At left-back, we’ll go for Owen Beck, who was eye-catching in opposition to Wacker Innsbruck.

Into midfield, Curtis Jones is due a begin in his first sport of pre-season. Once more, he has skilled since Tuesday so needs to be able to go.

We expect that James Milner will play the No 6 position, with few different out there choices.

We will see Harry Wilson getting a sport in central midfield. Whereas he’s used to taking part in out large, his attributes are extra suited to taking part in centrally underneath Jurgen Klopp.

Wilson was a sub for each of Tuesday’s matches after his late return to pre-season, so ought to have the prospect to impress potential consumers at the moment.

We imagine that the entrance three can be Takumi Minamino, Divock Origi and Sadio Mane.

We’re not precisely positive who will play the place in it, however we want to see Minamino within the false 9 position with Mane on the suitable and Origi on the left.

This XI has a very good mixture of youth and expertise.

Gamers like Phillips and Wilson can be taking part in to place themselves within the store window, whereas sure kids can be hoping to catch the attention.

Predicted second-half XI

As talked about, it’s laborious to know what Jurgen Klopp will do.

Will or not it’s 11 modifications or will he solely make a handful at half-time and extra later into the half?

As it’s the first actual sport of pre-season, we predict that he’ll accept 45 minutes within the tank for as many gamers as doable.

Adrian is more likely to substitute Kelleher in purpose.

It’s laborious to inform who will play at right-back. If Neco Williams really is moving on, would Klopp favor to offer Conor Bradley sport time?

We’ll nearly edge for Williams.

At centre-back, a partnership of Joel Matip and Ben Davies needs to be reunited after their first rate exhibiting in opposition to Wacker Innsbruck.

Kostas Tsimikas was arguably the perfect participant on present in both sport earlier within the week. He’ll get one other probability to impress at left-back.

Leighton Clarkson is the apparent candidate to play because the No 6.

Partnering him needs to be Naby Keita, who would be the senior midfielder within the facet.

Harvey Elliott performed effectively in midfield in opposition to Stuttgart. Whereas we want to see him out large earlier than pre-season is over, we predict he can be within the centre of the park for this one.

On the suitable, Mo Salah ought to substitute Sadio Mane.

We’re not completely satisfied in regards to the Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as a false 9 experiment. But it definitely seems like it will proceed for some time but, so that’s the place he can be.

We’re not positive who will play on the left flank.

Kaide Gordon was very spectacular on the suitable in opposition to Wacker Innsbruck. Followers will definitely wish to see extra of him.

But they may also wish to get a have a look at Mateusz Musialowski. The Pole didn’t play earlier within the week, however there was no phrase of an damage.

We’ll predict a full Liverpool first-team debut for him in opposition to Mainz.

Full Liverpool first-half XI vs Mainz

Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Phillips, Konate, Beck; Jones, Milner, Wilson; Mane, Minamino, Origi

Full Liverpool second-half XI vs Mainz

Adrian; N. Williams, Matip, Davies, Tsimikas; Keita, Clarkson, Elliott; Salah, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Musialowski

Patrick Hayes is freelance soccer author and avid Liverpool fan