Chester v Liverpool: Pre-season set to get under way
Liverpool will begin their pre-season preparations with a short trip to the Swansway Chester Stadium on Saturday.
Chester, who play their football in the Vanarama National League North following relegation last season, are managed by former Salford City pair Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson.
This will be the first match of pre-season for both sides - read on for a closer look at the fixture...
Team selection...
Aside from Adam Lallana and Joel Matip, all of the Liverpool players who returned on Monday are available to feature, including new signings Naby Keita and Fabinho. Jürgen Klopp will use the full depth of his squad, with an opportunity for the likes of Harry Wilson and Sheyi Ojo following productive loan spells with Hull City and Fulham respectively.
The opposition...
Liverpool continue a recent trend of beginning pre-season with local friendlies, although this will be their first trip to Chester. The club, formed in 2010, was established by fans upon the dissolution of Chester City. The stadium, the same one in which the former club used to play, has a maximum capacity of 5,376.
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Fresh faces...
Chester have multiple new additions who may play some part: Grant Shenton has played in goal under the management team in the past and has been acquired for the 2018-19 season, while new defender Steven Howson has also previously played for Morley and Johnson. Multiple players from Chester's youth system have been handed professional contracts for the upcoming campaign.
The road ahead...
Saturday's fixture is followed by a game against Tranmere Rovers in midweek; this will be the third season in a row that the Reds have visited Prenton Park as part of their preparations. Bury and Blackburn Rovers round off the local games, after which the squad travel to America to take part in the International Champions Cup.
A match against Napoli at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin follows, before pre-season is concluded when Torino visit Anfield on August 7. The Premier League season gets under way the next weekend, when Liverpool play host to West Ham United.