Liverpool face AC Milan in the Dubai Super Cup today, with a strong side named by Jurgen Klopp.
Friday’s friendly provides the Liverpool boss with one last look at his team in action before the return of competitive football for the Reds.
An early-season injury crisis has somewhat cleared for Liverpool, with Joel Matip starting and Naby Keita on the bench against Milan.
“There was one session where we got advice to rest [Matip] a little bit, but it was not from him, it was from the medical department, [so] that's what we did,” Klopp said earlier in the week after defeat to Lyon.
“Apart from that he could do everything. Looked good today, 45 minutes was again what we were allowed to use him. That's what we did. That's good.
“Naby's first 30 minutes, I think, for a while. Very helpful as well, important position, important player, so that was [what] we should only use him [for], 30 minutes. I think against AC Milan next Friday they are probably able to play a bit longer.”
Darwin Nunez in on the bench for Liverpool today after joining up with the squad’s warm-weather training camp in Dubai ahead of the game.
Luis Diaz (knee), Diogo Jota (calf) and Arthur Melo (knee) will miss out but Harvey Elliott starts despite suffering a knock against Lyon.
Jordan Henderson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson Becker are among the players who made it to the World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar who are not available to face Milan.
Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Kelleher; Milner, Gomez, Matip, Robertson; Bajcetic, Elliott, Thiago; Oxlade Chamberlain, Salah, Firmino
Subs: Adrian, Davies, Keita, Tsimikas, Nunez, Carvalho, Clark, Phillips, Doak, Cain, Quansah, Corness, Chambers, Frauendorf
