Jurgen Klopp has picked Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai in the same Liverpool team for the first time today.
The Reds are all set to take on Bayern Munich with kick-off coming up at 12.30 this afternoon. With less than two weeks before the Premier League season begins, it’s a big test for Liverpool.
As a result, Klopp has put a strong team out in Singapore. As per liverpoolfc.com, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai start together for the very first time.
Mac Allister has so far played in three halves for the Reds, but all without his Hungarian teammate. A slight knock has restricted Szoboszlai to just two appearances, but he’s fine to start today.
Elsewhere, Curtis Jones completes the midfield three, as he continues in the defensive midfield role the manager has talked him up in.
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With such few bodies now available to Klopp to choose in midfield, these two need to get up to speed quickly.
There had been some debate over whether either would be eased in at the start of the season. But without Fabinho and Jordan Henderson to call on, that’s no longer a question.
Mac Allister and Szoboszlai now unquestionably make up two thirds of Liverpool’s best midfield.
The third part of that equation is probably still Thiago Alcantara. But with the Spaniard nursing an injury back home on Merseyside, Jones will have to do for now.
The 22-year-old is talented enough to make his way in Liverpool’s midfield, he proved that last season. There are some lingering question marks over his fitness though, and he still has a bit to prove.
Today against Bayern won’t answer those questions for good, but it’ll be a good way of gauging where Curtis is at.
In the meantime, all eyes will be on how Liverpool’s new boys gel against top-level opponents. They’ve both been incredibly positive so far, but this is a bigger test. Go well, lads!