Liverpool take on Mainz today in their third (we guess?) pre-season friendly of the summer.
After two separate 30-minute games against Wacker Innsbruck and Stuttgart on Tuesday, the Reds will have their first proper run out of the pre-season camp at 5.15 pm.
It is almost impossible to predict what type of team that Jurgen Klopp will put out against his old side.
Usually, in pre-season, we see one set of 11 play the first half and a completely new side play the second half.
So, we will try, and probably fail, to predict what these two XI’s will be.
While Liverpool could possibly play their “best” team in one half and a “weaker” side in the other, we will assume that the coaches will go for two even sides.
Predicted Liverpool first-half XI vs Mainz
Starting off in goals, Caoimhin Kelleher is fit to play after a knock kept him out of Tuesday’s matches. We think he will go straight in after impressing in training.
At right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold should be fit to start this one. He played the “easier” of the two games earlier in the week so will be ready for the next 45 minutes of his comeback.
Nat Phillips was left out of Tuesday’s games as he continues to be linked to a move away. He has trained since then so we think that he will feature against Mainz.
We think that Ibou Konate will partner him. The Frenchman is no stranger to Mainz having played them numerous times in the last few seasons.
At left-back, we will go for Owen Beck, who was eye-catching against Wacker Innsbruck.
Into midfield, Curtis Jones is due a start in his first game of pre-season. Again, he has trained since Tuesday so should be ready to go.
We think that James Milner will play the No 6 role, with few other available options.
We can see Harry Wilson getting a game in central midfield. While he is used to playing out wide, his attributes are more suited to playing centrally under Jurgen Klopp.
Wilson was a sub for both of Tuesday’s matches after his late return to pre-season, so should have the chance to impress potential buyers today.
We believe that the front three will be Takumi Minamino, Divock Origi and Sadio Mane.
We are not exactly sure who will play where in it, but we would like to see Minamino in the false 9 role with Mane on the right and Origi on the left.
This XI has a good mix of youth and experience.
Players like Phillips and Wilson will be playing to put themselves in the shop window, while certain youngsters will be hoping to catch the eye.
Predicted second-half XI
As mentioned, it is hard to know what Jurgen Klopp will do.
Will it be 11 changes or will he only make a handful at half-time and more later into the half?
As it is the first real game of pre-season, we think that he will settle for 45 minutes in the tank for as many players as possible.
Adrian is likely to replace Kelleher in goal.
It is hard to tell who will play at right-back. If Neco Williams really is moving on, would Klopp prefer to give Conor Bradley game time?
We will just about edge for Williams.
At centre-back, a partnership of Joel Matip and Ben Davies should be reunited after their decent showing against Wacker Innsbruck.
Kostas Tsimikas was arguably the best player on show in either game earlier in the week. He will get another chance to impress at left-back.
Leighton Clarkson is the obvious candidate to play as the No 6.
Partnering him should be Naby Keita, who will be the senior midfielder in the side.
Harvey Elliott played well in midfield against Stuttgart. While we would like to see him out wide before pre-season is over, we think he will be in the centre of the park for this one.
On the right, Mo Salah should replace Sadio Mane.
We are not entirely convinced about the Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as a false 9 experiment. Yet it certainly looks like it is going to continue for a while yet, so that is where he will be.
We are not sure who will play on the left flank.
Kaide Gordon was very impressive on the right against Wacker Innsbruck. Fans will certainly want to see more of him.
Yet they will also want to get a look at Mateusz Musialowski. The Pole didn’t play earlier in the week, but there has been no word of an injury.
We will predict a full Liverpool first-team debut for him against 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
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