Liverpool face German opposition for the fourth time in pre-season on Monday, as SV Darmstadt 98 take on the Reds at Deepdale in their final friendly affair of the summer.

Jurgen Klopp's side lost a seven-goal spectacular 4-3 to Bayern Munich in their penultimate exhibition contest, while the visitors have failed to score in their four warm-up games so far.

Match preview

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Starting life without Fabinho acting as the one-man midfield screen, a new-look Liverpool side shipped no fewer than four goals to Bayern when the two continental giants locked horns in Singapore on August 2, although Thomas Tuchel's defence was far from watertight either.

However, Cody Gakpo, Virgil van Dijk and Luis Diaz's efforts were in vain, as Bayern came out on top thanks to Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane, Josip Stanisic and 20-year-old left-back Frans Kratzig, who netted the game's seventh and decisive goal with 90 minutes on the clock.

While understandably lamenting defensive deficiencies that have bedevilled Liverpool over the summer - the Reds also shipped two goals to Karlsruher SC before being breached four times by Greuther Furth - Klopp allowed himself to enjoy the electric atmosphere in Singapore, where his side had previously thumped Leicester City 4-0.

From keeping the Foxes at bay to conceding at will against German outfits, Klopp may be grateful not to be facing sides from his homeland every week, as the Reds gear up for another 90 minutes of friendly football before the competitive action commences.

With Van Dijk now donning the armband permanently and Trent Alexander-Arnold being appointed his deputy, Liverpool's attentions will soon turn to an opening-day Premier League outing at Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea on August 13, but more faces are expected through the Anfield doors in the coming weeks.

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Following a six-year stay in the doldrums of the Bundesliga 2, Darmstadt will be testing their mettle against the big boys of German football once again in the 2023-24 campaign, having achieved automatic promotion to the Bundesliga with a second-placed finish last term.

A tally of 67 points saw Darmstadt edge out former powerhouses Hamburger SV, but there was still a palpable sense of disappointment on the final day, as Torsten Lieberknecht's side were ultimately forced to settle for second place behind 1. FC Heidenheim on goal difference.

Darmstadt had cemented their place at the top of the standings since gameweek 12 and remained on their throne until the final day, where like Liverpool in July, the Lilies also conceded four goals to Greuther Furth but failed to respond to any of those strikes, going down 4-0 and missing out on title glory by the finest of margins.

The dust has firmly settled now, but Darmstadt's pre-season exploits hardly inspire confidence within the fanbase, as Lieberknecht's men lost 1-0 to Norwich City and 2-0 to FC Giessen before also being stunted in a pair of goalless stalemates with Karlsruher and SV Sandhausen.

The Lilies could also be handed a baptism of fire in their opening Bundesliga affair, which comes away to Eintracht Frankfurt on August 20, prior to which they will kick off their bid for a shock DFB-Pokal crown at FC 08 Homburg.

Team News

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A few hearts were in mouths when Alexis Mac Allister was forced off at half time in the loss to Bayern following a clash of knees, but Klopp affirmed that the Argentine midfielder was only nursing a bruise and could have pushed through the pain in a competitive match.

Unsurprisingly, no risks were taken with Mac Allister's fitness last time out, but the summer signing should be fine to line up on Monday, which is more than can be said for groin surgery victims Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara.

With only one tune-up match left on the agenda, Klopp should give the nod to most of his regular starters for the upcoming campaign, meaning recalls are likely for Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Ibrahima Konate.

Meanwhile, Darmstadt are already dealing with an unenviable list of absentees ahead of the new term, as defensive trio Emir Karic, Jannik Muller and Frank Ronstadt are all taking up spots in the infirmary.

Attacking duo Aaron Seydel and Oscar Vilhemsson are also struggling with muscular problems, which could open up a place for new signing Fraser Hornby - signed from Reims this summer - to come into the attack.

A former Everton and Northampton Town academy player, Hornby will return to somewhat familiar territory this week, potentially at the tip of a 3-4-2-1 setup from the Lilies.

Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Jones, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Diaz

SV Darmstadt 98 possible starting lineup:
Schuhen; Klarer, Zimmermann, Maglica; Bader, Gjasula, Nurnberger, Holland; Mehlem, Honsak; Hornby

We say: Liverpool 3-0 SV Darmstadt 98

Even the most ardent of Darmstadt fans will surely resign their side to a scoreless pre-season ahead of their Bundesliga homecoming, as a full-strength Liverpool side will prove too strong at Deepdale.

Klopp's side have struggled to shut up shop over the summer months and are still lacking an out-and-out number six, but a routine win should await the Reds to cap off a largely positive summer period.


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