Darwin Nunez Virgil van Dijk Liverpool 2022-23Getty/GOAL

Nunez vs Firmino, Van Dijk's partner & Carvalho's quality - What we've learned from Liverpool's pre-season

Having come agonisingly close to immortality last season, Liverpool’s aim this time around is simple: same again, but even better.

The Reds will be among the favourites for both the Premier League and Champions League, both of which narrowly eluded them last time out. They will also defend the two domestic cups they won in such dramatic circumstances at Wembley.

On Saturday, they will face champions Manchester City in the FA Community Shield at Leicester’s King Power Stadium.

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Twenty-four hours later comes a friendly against Strasbourg at Anfield, before the league season begins at Fulham on August 6.

Pre-season has seen a mixed bag of results, with convincing wins over Crystal Palace offset by a heavy loss against Manchester United in Bangkok and, on Wednesday night, a narrow 1-0 defeat to Austrian champions Salzburg.

Drawing definitive conclusions from such games is rarely wise, but here’s what GOAL has learned from watching Jurgen Klopp’s side this summer…