Liverpool run perfect for the Premier League
Last season, Darmstadt finished second in the Bundesliga 2 - the second division in the German football pyramid - to get promoted to the Bundesliga. They were dead in the pre-season, when respectively losing to Norwich 0-1, Giessen 0-2 and then drawing Karlsruher, Sandhausen goalless.
Against an opponent who was not in good form and inferior in terms of class, Liverpool dominated, controlled the ball 68%, finished 27 times with 10 shots on target - compared to 6 and 2 of the opponent.
In the 5th minute, Mohamed Salah took the opportunity to open the scoring with a left foot kick from close to the goal. Three minutes later, the Egyptian striker continued to shine with a situation of stealing the ball right in the penalty area and then passing a cross to Diogo Jota's cross to double the difference.
10 minutes, Darmstadt shortened the gap thanks to a direct attack. Braydon Manu passed a long one-touch pass for Mathias Honsak to clear the offside trap, ran across Trent Alexander-Arnold's face, and then shot with his left foot diagonally to lower goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
After that, Liverpool continued to dominate, creating a series of opportunities and then setting the score in the 59th minute. From the corner of rookie Dominik Szoboszlai, Luis Diaz cut his heel and made goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen stuck.
Liverpool would have won even more if Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez or Alexis MacAllister had taken advantage of the opportunity. But the result of 3-1 was enough for Klopp's army to run perfect for the opening match of the Premier League season 2023-2024 at Chelsea on August 13.
This summer, before meeting Darmstadt, Liverpool beat Karlsruher SC 4-2, drew Greuther Furth 4-4, won Leicester 4-0 and lost to Bayern 3-4.
Liverpool experienced a tumultuous transfer window when they parted ways with captain Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Fabinho and Robert Firmino.
In contrast, the Anfield owner recruited Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig for $76 million, Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton for $46 million, and is targeting Romeo Lavia - a 19-year-old Belgian midfielder valued at 57 million by Southampton. USD.
Alisson - Alexander-Arnold (Scanlon, 74), Konate (Matip, 60), Van Dijk (Gomez, 60), Robertson (Tsimikas, 60), Mac Allister (Jones, 74), Szoboszlai (Elliott, 60), Gakpo ( Quansah, 74), Diaz (McConnell, 74), Salah (Doak, 60), Jota (Nunez, 60).
