Liverpool news: Five things we learned from Borussia Dortmund defeat
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Liverpool suffered their first defeat of pre-season but not all was lost for Jurgen Klopp on a stifling night in Indiana.
Having opened up with games against Tranmere and Bradford, Borussia Dortmund represented a significant rise in terms of opposition.
With a crowd of 40,361 watching, Klopp saw issues that Liverpool will need to address to go alongside some moments – such as Rhian Brewster's fourth goal in three matches – to leave him positive. Sportsmail looks at five issue that arose in the 90 minutes.
FABINHO CAN FIND A HIGHER LEVEL
The opportunity to watch Premier League teams train at close-quarters is rare so it was fascinating to see Liverpool's session unfold at Notre Dame University on Thursday. The 'a list' individuals really stand out and Fabinho certainly belongs in that bracket.
This may not have been a taxing assignment but the Brazilian did all that was asked of him with class, his efforts typified by the instinctive, cushioned ball that enabled Harry Wilson to equalise in the 35th minute. Ryan Kent's dummy was wonderful but the initial ball went through the eye of a needle.
He was a slow-burner after arriving from Monaco in May 2018 but Fabinho ended the season as key figure. Now he is fully attuned to Klopp's way of playing, it is not difficult to envisage him engaging a higher gear when the serious business begins.
HOW WILL THREE INTO ONE GO?
Liverpool's defending was lackadaisical more often than Klopp would have wished to see and each of Dortmund's three goals – scored by Paco Alcacer (third minute), Thomas Delaney (55) and Jacob Bruun Larsen (58) – could have been avoided.
It was not, it must be stressed, his first choice back four and there is no question that Virgil van Dijk, a 60th minute substitute, will lift the quality and concentration several notches once he is ready to play.
But who starts alongside him? Dejan Lovren got half-an-hour here, while Joe Gomez and Joel Matip started. Gomez has been used on the left – Vani Dijk's position – in training games. That suggests he is vulnerable but it would be folly to make a rash judgement now.
Klopp loves Gomez but he has also been enthusing over Joel Matip, who was in the side on merit for the final throes of last season. The Cameroonian has two years left on his contract and his ambition will be to win another one. Liverpool's manager has big decisions to make.
BRANDT'S SHIP HAS SAILED
Dortmund may have lost Christian Pulisic but they have a stellar team. They are a terrifically run club and have been busy in the transfer market reinvesting the fortune they received from Chelsea with acquisitions such as Thorgan Hazard and Mats Hummels.
What, though, of Julian Brandt? In a different era, he could have been a Liverpool player. In 2017, when Klopp was looking for a left-footed attacker, the Germany international was a target for the role that eventually went to Mohamed Salah but he chose to remain at Bayer Leverkusen.
There were reports earlier this spring that Brandt was back on Liverpool's radar but it was never the case. Brandt's time was up the moment he sought guarantees of playing time from Klopp. It's fair to say he never gave Klopp a reason to believe he had erred with this performance.
A NEW YEAR OF THE OX
Thursday was a day for anniversaries in Liverpool's squad. July 18 represented a year since Alisson Becker was signed from Roma but it also represented a year since Jurgen Klopp delivered the news that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was going to miss the entire 2018-19 season.
It was symbolic, then, to see him scuttling around for 60 minutes against Dortmund and moving another step closer to fitness but it also important to offer some words of caution. He is physically fit and sharp but it is going to take time to rediscover his rhythm.
Oxlade-Chamberlain did some nice things during his runout, not least a super ball that Ryan Kent should have converted, but there was also evidence of rust and frustration that certain pieces of play were not clicking. He is back in one sense but there is still another peak to scale.
RECOGNITION FOR A STALWART
You may dismiss the importance for these games but for those involved, the significance cannot be understated. Take Simon Mignolet. He knows that Alisson Becker will take the gloves when he returns from holiday and his opportunities will be limited.
His attitude around the camp – and his determination to uphold the standards Klopp has set – cannot be faulted. Liverpool may have conceded three goals but no blame could attached to the Belgian. If anything, he was the reason they stayed in the game until the end.
Mignolet's best moment was a brilliant reflex save to deny Dortmund substitute Immanuel Pherani. He is good enough to be the main man at many clubs across the continent. There is a reason why Klopp says Liverpool have 'two number ones'. Players with his attitude are not easy to find.
Liverpool suffered their first defeat of pre-season but not all was lost for Jurgen Klopp on a stifling night in Indiana.
Having opened up with games against Tranmere and Bradford, Borussia Dortmund represented a significant rise in terms of opposition.
With a crowd of 40,361 watching, Klopp saw issues that Liverpool will need to address to go alongside some moments – such as Rhian Brewster's fourth goal in three matches – to leave him positive. Sportsmail looks at five issue that arose in the 90 minutes.
FABINHO CAN FIND A HIGHER LEVEL
The opportunity to watch Premier League teams train at close-quarters is rare so it was fascinating to see Liverpool's session unfold at Notre Dame University on Thursday. The 'a list' individuals really stand out and Fabinho certainly belongs in that bracket.
This may not have been a taxing assignment but the Brazilian did all that was asked of him with class, his efforts typified by the instinctive, cushioned ball that enabled Harry Wilson to equalise in the 35th minute. Ryan Kent's dummy was wonderful but the initial ball went through the eye of a needle.
He was a slow-burner after arriving from Monaco in May 2018 but Fabinho ended the season as key figure. Now he is fully attuned to Klopp's way of playing, it is not difficult to envisage him engaging a higher gear when the serious business begins.
HOW WILL THREE INTO ONE GO?
Liverpool's defending was lackadaisical more often than Klopp would have wished to see and each of Dortmund's three goals – scored by Paco Alcacer (third minute), Thomas Delaney (55) and Jacob Bruun Larsen (58) – could have been avoided.
It was not, it must be stressed, his first choice back four and there is no question that Virgil van Dijk, a 60th minute substitute, will lift the quality and concentration several notches once he is ready to play.
But who starts alongside him? Dejan Lovren got half-an-hour here, while Joe Gomez and Joel Matip started. Gomez has been used on the left – Vani Dijk's position – in training games. That suggests he is vulnerable but it would be folly to make a rash judgement now.
Klopp loves Gomez but he has also been enthusing over Joel Matip, who was in the side on merit for the final throes of last season. The Cameroonian has two years left on his contract and his ambition will be to win another one. Liverpool's manager has big decisions to make.
BRANDT'S SHIP HAS SAILED
Dortmund may have lost Christian Pulisic but they have a stellar team. They are a terrifically run club and have been busy in the transfer market reinvesting the fortune they received from Chelsea with acquisitions such as Thorgan Hazard and Mats Hummels.
What, though, of Julian Brandt? In a different era, he could have been a Liverpool player. In 2017, when Klopp was looking for a left-footed attacker, the Germany international was a target for the role that eventually went to Mohamed Salah but he chose to remain at Bayer Leverkusen.
There were reports earlier this spring that Brandt was back on Liverpool's radar but it was never the case. Brandt's time was up the moment he sought guarantees of playing time from Klopp. It's fair to say he never gave Klopp a reason to believe he had erred with this performance.
A NEW YEAR OF THE OX
Thursday was a day for anniversaries in Liverpool's squad. July 18 represented a year since Alisson Becker was signed from Roma but it also represented a year since Jurgen Klopp delivered the news that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was going to miss the entire 2018-19 season.
It was symbolic, then, to see him scuttling around for 60 minutes against Dortmund and moving another step closer to fitness but it also important to offer some words of caution. He is physically fit and sharp but it is going to take time to rediscover his rhythm.
Oxlade-Chamberlain did some nice things during his runout, not least a super ball that Ryan Kent should have converted, but there was also evidence of rust and frustration that certain pieces of play were not clicking. He is back in one sense but there is still another peak to scale.
RECOGNITION FOR A STALWART
You may dismiss the importance for these games but for those involved, the significance cannot be understated. Take Simon Mignolet. He knows that Alisson Becker will take the gloves when he returns from holiday and his opportunities will be limited.
His attitude around the camp – and his determination to uphold the standards Klopp has set – cannot be faulted. Liverpool may have conceded three goals but no blame could attached to the Belgian. If anything, he was the reason they stayed in the game until the end.
Mignolet's best moment was a brilliant reflex save to deny Dortmund substitute Immanuel Pherani. He is good enough to be the main man at many clubs across the continent. There is a reason why Klopp says Liverpool have 'two number ones'. Players with his attitude are not easy to find.
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