Insights Gained from Liverpool’s Draw with Greuther Furth in Pre-Season

Liverpool faced off against German second-tier side Greuther Furth in their second pre-season friendly on Monday. Despite taking a 3-1 lead in the second half with goals from Luis Diaz and a brace from Darwin Nunez, Liverpool’s defense was called into question as they allowed the opposition to score three goals in quick succession to go 4-3 ahead. Mohamed Salah managed to salvage a draw for the Reds with an 89th-minute equalizer.

The match provided a great opportunity for Liverpool to test out their new-look team, with the likes of Diaz and Nunez impressing with their attacking prowess. Diaz, who missed six months of last season due to a knee injury, could be like a new signing for Liverpool this season. He scored the opening goal with a well-taken strike. Nunez, who was perhaps not living up to expectations in his first campaign on Merseyside, scored two goals and assisted Salah’s equalizer.

The game also saw Liverpool experiment with their midfield, with Trent Alexander-Arnold playing in the traditional No 6 role and Cody Gakpo playing as a deeper-lying creative midfielder. Ben Doak, the 17-year-old Scotsman, impressed on the right wing with nimble footwork and positive directness.

However, Liverpool’s defense was a cause for concern, with the back four appearing all over the place in the second half. This lack of depth in central defensive areas has been a theme of recent seasons for Liverpool, and the match against Greuther Furth highlighted the need for defensive reinforcements.

On a positive note, Liverpool welcomed back Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott, who missed last week’s friendly due to their involvement with the England Under 21s in the European Championships. With exits in midfield this summer, Jones and Elliott could be set for a pivotal role this season.

Overall, the match was a worthy workout for Liverpool, who will now head to Singapore for two matches against Leicester and Bayern Munich before playing Darmstadt at Preston’s Deepdale in two weeks’ time. The match against Greuther Furth provided Jurgen Klopp with plenty to ponder as he prepares his team for the upcoming season.