Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool squad are joined by Sheyi Ojo and Emre Can this week as their pre-season tour of the US continues.
The Reds take on Chelsea at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California on Wednesday night, kicking off a three-game tour across the Atlantic.
Having granted his summer internationals three weeks’ holiday following the completion of their duties at the Copa America Centenario and Euro 2016, Klopp welcomed his players back gradually.
James Milner returned days before the Reds travelled, while Nathaniel Clyne, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge were available from the first day of tour.
Belgian trio Simon Mignolet, Divock Origi and Christian Benteke arrived shortly after, while summer signing Georginio Wijnaldum flew over following his £25 million move from Newcastle United.
As Klopp prepares his side to take on Antonio Conte’s Blues, the 49-year-old can now count Ojo and Can among the players at his disposal.
Ojo linked up with his team-mates on Monday in Palo Alto, while Can is in Los Angeles, ready to return to action.
The 22-year-old Germany international met up with his former Reds captain Steven Gerrard while there, with the LA Galaxy midfielder due to attend Wednesday night’s clash.
Set to continue his rapid development under Klopp in 2016/17, Can is capable of filling the void left by Gerrard on his departure in 2015.
Can will take up a key role in midfield in the upcoming campaign, and Klopp has a variety of options to partner him with, as Wijnaldum and fellow summer arrival Marko Grujic are both capable of shining in the middle of the park.
Henderson and Milner will also be hopeful of regular game time, while Kevin Stewart and Cameron Brannagan are among those also available in the US.
Meanwhile, Ojo had a hand in four goals as the England U19s reached the semi-finals of this summer’s European U19 Championship in Germany.
But with Aidy Boothroyd’s side crashing out to Italy on Thursday afternoon, the winger can now look to establish himself in Klopp’s squad this pre-season.
Ojo will face competition from the likes of Wijnaldum, Lallana, Sadio Mane and Lazar Markovic for a starting berth on the right flank, but boasts a high-profile admirer in Klopp—who is seemingly unlikely to sanction his departure on loan this summer.
After Liverpool’s International Champions Cup tie with Chelsea, they continue the tournament against AC Milan at the Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on July 30.
They then round off their tour with a friendly against AS Roma at Busch Stadium in St Louis, Missouri (August 1).
One player has left the squad this week, however, with Mamadou Sakho sent back to the UK following Klopp’s concerns over his diligence.
Fan Comments