In a rare behavior among football teams, Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp confirmed that his team will play a friendly match one day after its opening match in the English Premier League (Premier League) at Fulham Stadium, and will play another friendly match next Sunday, also a day after facing Manchester City. .
The German coach justified his decision by saying that the players need more matches to adapt to the busy schedule of matches in the 2022-2023 season.
Liverpool, who faced Manchester United, Crystal Palace, Leipzig and Salzburg during pre-season, will meet Manchester City in the Community Shield match at Leicester City on Saturday.
And he will host the French Strasbourg in a friendly match at Anfield next Sunday, and start his campaign in the Premier League at Fulham Stadium on the sixth of next August.
Klopp said that Liverpool will play another friendly match the next day against an opponent that has not yet been determined, to give the players the necessary speed to adapt to the new season, which begins earlier than usual due to the World Cup in Qatar, which takes place next November and December. .
"Saturday's match is very important, but we still need more preparation for the new season, and that cannot be ignored," Klopp told reporters. "We played against Salzburg and lost 1-0. We trained the day before the match twice. I cannot ignore the fact that after this important match ( Community Shield) There is a season coming up, so we have to extend the preparation period beyond the start of the season."
"From mid-August I think we will play every 3 days, so there is no more time for training. So we try to do the right things and the match schedule is always a challenge."
Goalkeeper Alisson and striker Diogo Jota will miss the Community Shield match against Manchester City on Saturday, as they continue to recover from injury.