Here are three Liverpool players we’re excited to see against RB Salzburg tonight. This is the Reds’ final proper friendly.
Liverpool play RB Salzburg this evening in their final true preparation ahead of the new season. At least, that’s if you define the season as starting with the Community Shield – not everybody would.
And there is one final friendly against Strasbourg on Sunday but given that comes the day after the Community Shield, we’re not sure Liverpool will treat it as proper preparation. It’s far more likely to simply be a fitness run-out for those who don’t feature at the King Power.
We also assume that Klopp will go with a very strong XI against Manchester City. With that in mind, this evening’s game is really the final chance for players to earn a spot in that one. So just who should we be looking out for in Austria?
Liverpool vs RB Salzburg tonight
Stefan Bajcetic
Liverpool’s youth coaches labelled Bajcetic a ‘standout’ player last season and he’s certainly looked like one early in pre-season. We were seriously impressed with his outing against RB Leipzig last week and expect similar this evening.
Bajcetic can cover both centre-back and holding midfield, giving him a potential squad role this season. After all, Liverpool need a fifth-choice centre-back and cover for Fabinho. The 17-year-old could do both.
We don’t believe he’ll face City on Saturday so tonight is a big game for Bajcetic. Perform well and we might see a whole lot more of him this season.
Fabio Carvalho
Phil Thompson absolutely raved about Carvalho after his efforts against Leipzig. The Portuguese playmaker looked like a star in the making and someone who could burst into the Liverpool first-team ahead of schedule.
Unlike Bajcetic, we think Carvalho could earn a place against City with a good showing this evening. While he almost certainly won’t start, there’s every chance he becomes a key sub at the King Power stadium.
Some more magic tonight would confirm that.
Darwin Nunez
Yes, we’re excited about Bajcetic. Yes, we’re very excited about Carvalho. Make no mistake, though – Nunez is the player everyone has eyes on tonight.
His four goals against Leipzig silenced every critic in the most incredible way. Those were four goals in 45 minutes, after all. It was the exact kind of striking display Liverpool dreamed of when signing the Uruguayan and he didn’t take long to show it.
More goals tonight and he might just squeeze into the starting XI for the Community Shield. It won’t be an easy task, though.
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