Focus may be on the ever-shifting Liverpool attack, which may have a chance to add Alexander Isak to their ranks after his reported desire to leave Newcastle United, but on Saturday, Arne Slot will need to ensure that this uncertainty isn’t getting in the way of preparation for the season. Liverpool will look to gear up against a new-look Milan side.
The Reds may have won the Premier League last campaign, but with Arsenal, Manchester City, and Chelsea all improving during the offseason, things will be much harder this time around, especially as Liverpool look to break in new players in key positions. Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz joined from Bayer Leverkusen this offseason, and both will have important roles in how the team looks.
Wirtz, being a record signing, has extremely high expectations coming to the Premier League, but he’s still only 22 and coming to a new league. He was already able to get his first assist in a Liverpool shirt, facing Stoke City, which helps with adjusting and there’s still more to do. Frimpong also excelled playing further forward with Leverkusen, but under Slot, he’ll need to adjust to a deeper role in a back four.
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Facing Milan and the duo of Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao, Frimpong will be tested by a sturdy defense, which is just what the preseason is all about. Even Hugo Ekitike could be set for his Liverpool debut after joining from Frankfurt. After winning the title, teams like Liverpool need to evolve in order to stay there.
Matches will continue to come, and expectations will only rise for the Reds. Moving on from Jurgen Klopp last season, Slot had time being an unknown quantity in the Premier League, but that won’t be the case anymore. He has plenty of tools at his disposal and will now need to fit them together to not only maintain their Premier League standing but also to push further forward in Champions League play while he’s at it.
Pressure will be on Slot each week to find the best solutions to keep Liverpool at the top, and the preseason will be key in ensuring that he does that. Despite already winning a title with the Reds, this season is when the challenges truly begin for Slot. The Premier League is never about what someone has done in the past but instead, what they can do moving forward is critical and winning only brings higher expectations.
Here are storylines, how you can watch the match and more:
How to watch Liverpool vs. Milan
- Date: Saturday, July 26 | Time: 7:30 a.m. ET
- Location: Kai Tak Sports Park — Kowloon City, China
- Live stream: CBS Sports Golazo Network
Prediction
Milan’s struggling attack will be easily handled by Liverpool even with plenty of rotation coming in this friendly. The Reds will overwhelm the Italian side en route to continuing a strong season as Wirtz picks apart Max Allegri’s defense. Pick: Liverpool 3, Milan 1
