Karlsruher vs Liverpool LIVE! Friendly match stream, latest score and goal updates today
Liverpool continue their pre-season preparations against German second division side Karlsruher today. Jurgen Klopp’s team have been on a training camp in his native Germany and play their first official game of the schedule at BBBank Wildpark in Karlsruhe.
The Reds have strengthened their squad in signing Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, with both new recruits in line to make their non-competitive debuts later today. Fabinho, however, has been left back in England after a major money bid from Saudi Arabia, while there are reports both Jordan Henderson and Luiz Diaz could follow him there.
Liverpool were always likely to rebuild after such a poor season last time out and, transfer talk aside, today’s game offers Klopp a chance to see his new players fit into the system, as well as to test the fitness of the more familiar face. Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog!
Live updates
3’ GOAL LIVERPOOL
Karlsruher 0-1 Liverpool
WHAT A START! Liverpool ahead inside three minutes. Mo Salah starts the attack off which a lovely touch to go goal-side, before slipping in Darwin Nunez.
The Uruguayan could shoot himself, but instead plays back to Salah. The ball is behind Salah, so he passes back to Nunez, who tucks into the corner smartly. Really well-worked goal.
KICK OFF
Here we are then. Underway in Liverpool’s first match of the new season!
The players are out!
Here come the players, out of the tunnel at BBBank Wildpark.
Getting close now
Just over five minutes to go now until kick-off between Liverpool and Karlsruher in the Reds’ first pre-season friendly…
Klopp previews the match
Jurgen Klopp has been speaking ahead of the match.
“I didn’t see a boy who didn’t show up, didn’t give 100 percent,” he said about pre-season training so far.
“We worked on pretty much everything — possession, out of possession, set pieces. I would like to see a good football game — that would be nice. I hope the boys will enjoy it.
“Curtis [Jones] and Harvey [Elliott] will join us tomorrow. A couple of players will play new positions [tonight] but it’s all about how we defend together and how we attack together.”
Karlsruher hoping to cash in on summer action so far
Karlsruher finished 20 points off the play-off places in the Bundesliga 2 last season, but they could cause Liverpool problems tonight due to their fitness levels.
They have already played sixth pre-season friendlies, while this is Liverpool’s first. Will the German side be quicker across the ground, or will Liverpool fly out the blocks as they seek to make a strong start to their pre-season campaign?
Pre-season fixtures for Liverpool
Tonight’s match against Karlsruher is Liverpool’s first match in pre-season. Here are their remaining fixtures before the season starts…
- July 24: Furth vs Liverpool — 12pm BST at Furth, Bavaria
- July 30: Liverpool vs Leicester City — 10am BST at The National Stadium, Singapore
- Aug. 2: Liverpool vs Bayern Munich — 12:30pm BST at The National Stadium, Singapore
- Aug. 7: Liverpool vs Darmstadt 98 — 7pm BST at Deepdale Stadium, Preston
Luis Diaz will be desperate to get back among the goals
Luis Diaz was firing in the early part of last season, but he then missed 31 games of the season after suffering a serious injury in early October.
He will be desperate to get among the goals tonight, as he looks to rediscover his goalscoring form ahead of the coming season.
Karlsruher lineup is out
Karlsruher have named 34-year-old former Germany international Lars Stindl in their starting XI to face Liverpool. The Bundesliga 2 side finished seventh in the league last season.
Karlsruher XI: Drewes; Jung, Franke, Bormuth, Heise; Rossman, Gondorf, Wanitzek; Stindl, Schleusener, Nebel
Subs: Eisele, Weiss, Beifus, Burnic, Brosinski, Zivzivadze, Herold, Thiede, Marino, Arase, Souchard, Ersungur
Szoboszlai starts for his Liverpool debut
Jurgen Klopp has named an intriguing lineup for tonight’s friendly. Szoboszlai does indeed make his debut, while Alexis Mac Allister has been named on the bench and could come on for a debut of his own.
There are also starts for youngsters Conor Bradley and Bobby Clark.
Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Alexander-Arnold, Clark; Salah, Diaz, Szoboszlai; Nunez.
Subs: Jaros, Mrozek, Gomez, Mac Allister, Gakpo, Jota, Tsimikas, Matip, Scanlon, Doak, McConnell, Koumas, Quansah.
