Liverpool’s pre-season friendly finally begins tomorrow night when the Reds visit German club Karlsruhrer SC. This pre-season offers Reds coach Jürgen Klopp the chance to return to his home country of the Rhineland.

It also offers Reds fans a chance to see a few players who may be playing in a Liverpool shirt for the last time.

FYI: Liverpool at Karlsruhrer SC (friendly club).
Kick-off: Wednesday July 19 at 5.30pm BST

BBBank Wildpark, Karlsruhe, Germany

Liverpool Preview: Team News Starting XI Prediction

Liverpool team news
Fabinho has left Anfield for good as he completes his £40m move to Saudi club Al-Ittihad. Jordan Henderson arrives for this game but looks set to join Fabinho on the Saudi Peninsula when the time comes.

The captain is linked with a move to Al-Ettifaq, now managed by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard. Seems a logical addition.

And now Luis Diaz is also linked with a possible move to the Saudi Pro League.

Coming to the players injured mid-season and sidelined for the rest of the season, Stefan Bajcetic is expected to be back for the first time since March. Thiago Alcantara could be fit, we’ll see.

However, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott won’t as they won’t return to training until the day after this game. It pretty much covers everything.

Early summer pre-season friendlies are always ‘interesting’ to say the least, so it will be fascinating to see Klopp’s starting line-up here.

More news………

Liverpool can make a profit if they replace Fabinho with a player Pep Lijnders likes

Liverpool midfielder Fabinho is subject of interest for a move from Saudi Arabia, but the Reds could replace the Brazilian international with Atalana’s Teun Koopmeiners

Liverpool’s summer transfer plans have taken an unexpected turn with the possible departure of midfielder Fabinho.

The Brazilian has attracted interest from Saudi Arabia, with Al Ittihad making a £40m offer for his services. Although no deal has been reached, Fabinho’s departure looks increasingly likely and as a result Liverpool are in need of a replacement who can be slotted straight into the starting XI.

Several names have been linked to the Reds, including Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips, Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch, Fulham’s Joao Palhinha and Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat. Southampton’s Romeo Lavia has also been identified as a long-term replacement for Fabinho, reports the Liverpool Echo.

However, each of these options comes with its own set of challenges, be it age, lack of Premier League experience, inflated prices or availability. But there is one player who could be the perfect solution to Liverpool’s midfield problem and allow them to turn a profit in the process: Atalanta’s Teun Koopmeiners.

The Dutch midfielder has been on Liverpool’s radar for a while now. According to reports from January, Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders is a huge fan of Koopmeiners.

The 25-year-old expressed his joy at Atalanta but also admitted he was flattered by the Liverpool links. “I saw the links and the stories about Liverpool,” he said. “It’s good to see that, but I’m 100% focused on Atalanta. I’m so happy to play here.”

Koopmeiners versatility is one of its strengths. He can play as a defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder or even central defender if needed.

His ability to adapt to different positions would make him a valuable asset to Liverpool, especially considering Jurgen Klopp’s new 3-2-2-3 formation or the more commonly used 4-3-2. Koopmeiners showed his talents in Italy last season, scoring 10 goals and providing four assists in 33 Serie A appearances.

Liverpool’s interest in Koopmeiners dates back to 2021 when they sought a replacement for Gini Wijnaldum. Although speculation has died down in recent months, the Reds’ reported interest in the Dutchman remains.

With a reported price of around £35m, the Koopmeiners would be an affordable option for Liverpool and would fit their preferred profile of signings. It would also give the Anfield club a profit of £5m from the Koopmeiners and Fabinho deals.

Koopmeiners’ existing relationships with Liverpool players Cody Gakpo and Virgil van Dijk could ease his integration into the team. The midfielder’s leadership qualities, combined with his technical ability and work rate, make him an attractive candidate for Klopp’s side. Liverpool’s pre-season preparations are underway and they will be hoping to bounce back from a difficult season.

As the transfer window progresses, it remains to be seen if Liverpool will make a firm move for the Dutch midfielder. However, if that were the case, Koopmeiners could be the perfect replacement for Fabinho as he offers both defensive stability and versatility in different positions.