Liverpool continue their preparations for the new campaign on Sunday night when they take on Sevilla in an International Champions Cup fixture.
The Spanish outfit head into the game in Boston having registered wins over Reading and FC Dallas over the past week.
Sevilla
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A sixth-placed finish in La Liga last season means that new boss Julen Lopetegui has it all to do in his first year in charge at Sevilla, although there are already signs that the Spaniard could prove to be an astute appointment.
Over half-a-dozen first-team additions have already been made as Lopetegui looks to both the present and future at a time when a number of high-profile names have departed Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
Lopetegui will play down their chances of immediately regaining a place inside the top four of the standings, but only a few will fail to be impressed with the team being put together by the former national team boss.
There is still plenty of work to do, however, with Liverpool representing a significant step up in class to what Sevilla have already encountered during pre-season.
A 2-1 triumph was registered over Championship team Reading last weekend, before they began their US tour with a 3-1 victory over MLS outfit FC Dallas.
Lopetegui would have regarded those fixtures as necessary to build their match sharpness with back-to-back wins over clubs who were - on paper - fitter than them coming as a bonus.
Summer signings Joan Jordan and Luuk de Jong were among the goalscorers in the game with Dallas, and Lopetegui will be optimistic that both men can emerge as key men during the upcoming campaign.
Nevertheless, an onus was placed of ensuring that each of the travelling party got minutes in their legs ahead of what should be a more intense workout against the Champions League winners.
Recent form: WW
Liverpool
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Jurgen Klopp would have knew that Borussia Dortmund represented a significant step up from their outings against Tranmere Rovers and Bradford City, and that assumption proved correct as the German side ran out 3-2 victors on Friday night.
Nevertheless, Klopp will focus on the positives as several of the club's younger crop suggested that they are ready to be involved in the first-team squad going forward.
Ryan Kent and Harry Wilson were the main standouts as they regularly caused problems for the Dortmund backline, while the versatile Adam Lewis made an impact during the closing half hour of the contest in Indiana.
Klopp and Liverpool will no doubt continue to be linked with big-money additions until the transfer window closes on August 8, although the German will not feel in a rush to strengthen at left-back and in the final third.
Nevertheless, conceding three goals during the opening hour showed how reliant Liverpool are on Virgil van Dijk, who steadied the ship after his side had gone 3-1 behind.
Klopp will also feel vindicated in his decision to keep Simon Mignolet at Anfield after the Belgian made several fine saves to keep the scoreline respectable either side of half time.
Aside from the Belgian stopper, Klopp is likely to select a much-changed lineup for the fixture against Sevilla as the Liverpool boss bids to avoid over-working his players ahead of a potentially long season.
However, he will be eager to avoid a second successive setback in the space of 48 hours as Liverpool play the fourth of their seven-game pre-season schedule.
Recent form: WWL
Team News
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Klopp could very well name the same side which ended the game in Indiana, which would mean a start for youngster Rhian Brewster.
Van Dijk and Jordan Henderson will also expect to feature, as will Andrew Robertson as he looks to improve his fitness after his recovery from a hand injury.
Lopetegui could hand starts to each of Sergio Rico, Simon Kjaer, Sergio Reguilon, Jordan and Roque Mesa after they all began the game with FC Dallas on the bench.
Former Manchester City man Nolito may also come into the side, although De Jong may keep his spot in attack.
Sevilla possible starting lineup:
Rico; Corchia, Kjaer, Kounde, Reguilon; Jordan, Banega, Mesa; Munir, De Jong, Nolito
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Mignolet; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Lewis; Jones, Woodburn, Brewster
Head To Head
These two clubs have only met in three competitive fixtures, and Liverpool are yet to register a victory over the La Liga outfit.
Sevilla ran out 3-1 winners in the 2016 Europa League final, while draws were played out when the teams were paired together in the 2017-18 Champions League group stages.
We say: Sevilla 1-2 Liverpool
Both sides are at a similar stage in terms of fitness, and that should make for a competitive encounter. We have to back Liverpool, however, with the Merseyside giants potentially outlasting their opponents in the final stages.
Darren Plant
