"Gut feeling will decide team" against Liverpool

JULIAN NAGELSMANN ON...

... the opponent.

Obviously Liverpool would be even stronger with Coutinho, Sturridge and Lallana. But I always prefer to take on a team that have all their players available to them. I would never be happy to see a player injured for an upcoming opponent.

... the players.

All my players are on board. There were no new injuries after the cup and even those players like Adam Szalai, who was out for ten days, are back training with the team.

... the sporting situation I.

I have a rough plan in my head about how I will line up tactically and with what players, but the final training session on Monday will also have some influence. The final decision about who will play and where will be made on Tuesday morning. My gut feeling will also have an influence on that. Then we will see how offensive and brave we perform. Ultimately, anything is possible.

... the sporting situation II.

The anticipation is huge among us all. You can sense that, not just in the team, but around the whole club. For the team, the coaching staff and me, these matches are a reward for our last season. We want to be mixing with the biggest teams, so we need to be able to beat them. Perhaps even twice.

... the sporting situation III.

We need two top performances to progress. We’re not complete underdogs, but Liverpool are definitely slight favourites. We’re not fussed about shocking the English press or the public, but rather our opponents. Tomorrow’s game will be no different to any evening Bundesliga game. The players will sleep at home and then we will meet in the morning. 

OPPONENT'S FORM

Liverpool’s pre-season preparations were fairly routine, with two wins against Crystal Palace and Leicester City in the Premier League Trophy. They then crushed Hertha BSC 3-0 in the German club’s 125th anniversary match, before beating record champions FC Bayern München by the same scoreline in the Audi Cup semi-final. The Reds were ultimately beaten on penalties by Atlético Madrid in the final, but overall it was a solid summer for the English club. However, their first Premier League match of the season saw them slip up in injury time to draw 3-3 with Watford. 

KEY BATTLES 

Possession versus a pressing machine. Wagner versus Lovren. Mingolet versus Baumann. One match, many stories. One match, many battles. One thing is for sure, however: Liverpool play the Klopp way. The Reds chase the ball like packs of wolves and put their opponents under intense pressure in their own half. TSG will need to pick out holes in Liverpool’s pressing and avoid making costly mistakes under pressure. Behind the pressing is where the space lies…

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