It will be the clearest indication yet of Kenny’s plans

Liverpool in action during a training session at Melwood Training Ground

Like many of our rivals, Liverpool have experienced a pre-season full of highs and lows. There have been good times and bad times. The club hasn’t enjoyed a successful pre-season campaign but there certainly seems to be certain plus points one simply cannot ignore. Spurs and Arsenal both have had mixed pre-season results while City are constantly surrounded by off-field problems. Point being – pre season is not always about results, the individual performances and fitness levels matter the most.

However, pre-season does give a blurred indication as to how a team will line-up in the following season. Dalglish has been experimenting greatly on team tactics and personnel over the course of the pre-season. Moreover, the team has been traveling a lot and hence, Dalglish usually changed the whole team after half time in every friendly. That meant shuffling our defence in between games – which can also disrupt defensive organization.

It is for those reasons that I strongly believe that our next friendly game against Valencia will prove to be the most vital game of our pre-season campaign. The game will give the clearest indication yet as to how Dalglish will line up his troops against Sunderland come the start of the season.

Dalglish will now be able to call upon the services of Pepe Reina, Glen Johnson and Daniel Agger after the trio featured in the 3-3 draw against Valerenga on Monday. The return of such big names will most likely strengthen our back line and with the Brazilian Lucas back in action, he will provide the much needed cover from midfield should he play – something we have lacked in our recent friendlies. Henderson, Downing and Aquilani have all improved leaps and bounds on fitness fronts and with Carroll bagging a goal against Valerenga, it will give him a much needed boost. The Anfield crowd will certainly be a factor and with the game being a home fixture, less travelling will definitely be a plus. With the Anfield faithful firmly behind the team, we can surely expect the players to give it their all and showcase some of their expansive set of skills which might get some of the critics off their backs.