Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp has returned from a good training camp in Germany, and the Reds will now return to Merseyside for extra workouts before traveling to Singapore.
“The camp was top; absolutely top-class — we cannot say any differently,” Klopp told Liverpool’s official website. “And if we can, we will try to return because the circumstances were ideal; we could do everything we desired.”
“We received tremendous support from the local club, SV Aasen; they were extremely helpful, so that was nice.” It’s great that Greuther Fürth came here to play us, because we’re almost home, and it was a long journey for them to get here.”
Aside from training camps and on-field activities, the Reds have a lot going on off the field. A 4-4 tie on Monday followed a 4-2 victory earlier in the trip to Germany, but the effort is far more significant than the score.
So are some of the issues that will need to be worked out over the next several weeks, with only 19 days until the Premier League start against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and only 38 days left in the transfer window.
Apart from more work on the training pitch, these are the five primary tasks that Liverpool still needs to complete, ordered from most vital to least important.
Signings in the midfield
Jörg Schmadtke has a clear and obvious priority to address next: locating at least one midfielder, preferably two. Liverpool has already lost the majority of its midfielders from last season, and more are expected to depart.
A holding midfielder is such a clear requirement for Liverpool that it may have to bite the bullet and spend top dollar, with every club that it contacts now aware of its current situation.
Roméo Lavia is one of the players who is admired, but Liverpool needs to make a decision and get something done before time runs out. In an ideal scenario, Lavia and a more experienced choice would be brought to Anfield.
Sales of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson… and a new captain
While neither departure has yet taken place, that is expected to happen soon. The next priority is to get clarification on Fabinho and Henderson, who are both poised to go.
Whatever the cause of the delays, getting them out the door, going on with life without them, and ceasing the urge to discuss the couple is best for everyone involved.
With Henderson gone, a new club captain can be named. Former Sunderland player Steven Gerrard took over as captain eight years ago.
A defender is required
A few experienced players struggled in the second half against Greuther Fürth, with Jol Matip and Joe Gomez both having wobbly moments and Kostas Tsimikas out of position at times as he adjusts to a new role.
Liverpool desperately needs to buy another center-back. While Levi Colwill’s dream choice may not be feasible, someone else will be necessary — no replay of the Aurélien Tchouaméni or nothing scenario is possible.
Liverpool must select who that will be, even if it is not the ideal candidate, to ensure that the team is not short at the back.
Injury improves
Liverpool still has midfield options available. Thiago Alcântara and Stefan Bajetic are two extremely good quality players who have returned to the fold. Tyler Morton will also want to be heard.
If either can be ready for the start of the season and play in the position that Trent Alexander-Arnold has played in preseason thus far, that would be fantastic. Alexander-Arnold might potentially take over as the hybrid player from Conor Bradley.
To make contract calls
Along with transfer decisions, Liverpool might benefit from a few contract extensions, which will undoubtedly be in the works behind the scenes.
Alexander-Arnold is a top priority; he, Mohamed Salah, and Virgil van Dijk are all under contract until 2025, which is now only two years away. Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konaté are both under contract until 2026.
Perhaps those decisions can be postponed until September, when the transfer window closes and the Liverpool team in charge has a bit more time on their hands. For the time being, the most pressing items to cross off the summer to-do list are additional transfers.
