With Jurgen Klopp not allowing anyone to take it easy, Al Hain-Cole expects the well-drilled Reds to play out a tight encounter against Vincenzo Montella's men in pre-season
After losing out 1-0 to Chelsea in their opening International Champions Cup clash against Chelsea, Liverpool will be looking to bounce straight back when they take on Milan at Santa Clara’s Buck Shaw Stadium on Saturday night.
That defeat was the Reds’ first in five pre-season matches, and they are 11/10 (2.10) favourites with Paddy Power to return to winning ways in California. New customers to the Irish bookmaker can take an enhanced price of 7/1 (8.0) on the favourites using the link provided below.
Meanwhile, Vincenzo Montella’s men came out on top in a penalty shootout after an enthralling 3-3 draw with Bayern Munich in their first ICC clash, and can be backed at 11/5 (3.20) to emerge victorious within 90 minutes this time out.
A clash between these two teams inevitably conjures up memories of the epic 3-3 Champions League final of 2005, and you can get odds of 12/5 (3.40) on them also taking this one to penalties after another stalemate on this occasion.
With six players booked and Cesc Fabregas sent off for Chelsea, it would hardly be accurate to describe the game at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl as a friendly match. Although obviously not pleased to see dangerous tackles flying in and midfielder Marko Grujic taken to hospital with concussion, Jurgen Klopp will at least have appreciated the clash for its intensity.
The German manager has been eager to present this American tour as a serious training camp rather than a holiday – something Mamadou Sakho found out after being sent home due to his lax attitude.
In fact, a serious work ethic has been a feature of Liverpool’s entire pre-season so far, with Klopp demanding more from his players even after comfortable victories against lower league domestic teams. Having seen his side concede their first goal in five exhibition games last time out, the former Borussia Dortmund boss will be demanding they tighten up once again when they take on the Italians.
With no quarter being given, odds of 10/11 (1.91) look good on the highly-motivated Reds ensuring under 2.5 goals in a competitive game versus Milan.
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