Dortmund’s favourite son is up against his old team in North Carolina this weekend as Liverpool vs Borussia Dortmund is the big Sunday game in the ICC.
Jurgen Klopp is remembered fondly by Dortmund fans as he brought a joie de vivre to the club in his seven-year tenure, coaching and playing a style of attacking football which is now a pleasure to watch at Anfield.
Now both sides are hoping for a step up in 2018/19 as prime candidates to depose the kings of their respective leagues, Manchester City and FC Bayern. New Borussia boss Lucien Favre will be determined to see his Dortmund side push FC Bayern closer in the coming season. The memory of a 6-0 thumping at the hands of the Bundesliga champions last April still looms large in the mind, and this game represents the first big test of the new era.
Liverpool was close to a glorious season: fired by the goals of Mo Salah, challenging City for the title of ‘most entertaining side’ in the Premier League and reaching the Champions League final.
Talking Points
The EPL SBOBET odds have pitched Liverpool as second favourites to lift the league trophy next May at odds of 4.96, and that could look good value if Klopp manages to make his defence as solid as his attack is lethal.
He’s certainly signalled that intention already in his summer dealings. Klopp’s signing of Brazil’s Alisson is a world record for a goalkeeper by paying Roma £67m, and the new Anfield star is set to complete his medical over the weekend. That’s not great news for the much-maligned Loris Karius; the present incumbent will have to impress mightily to keep the new man out.
It isn’t clear how many of Liverpool’s World Cup stars are likely to make the ICC, but the coach is eager to give his squad a rigorous pre-season workout. Last season’s EPL player of the year, Mo Salah, had an early exit with Egypt and is travelling with the squad to North Carolina along with Sadio Mane, but both are unlikely to feature in the first game.
We may get to see new signing Xherdan Shaqiri, though; the Swiss star will have his work cut out to get his name on the first-team sheet of the new season, and the ICC gives him a chance to stake his claim. The other new boys, Naby Keita and Fabinho, may also make an appearance.
Lucien Favre could well become the most popular manager at Dortmund since Klopp. And while the Liverpool vs Borussia Dortmund betting odds might suggest his team is in for a tough test this weekend, he has already endeared himself to some of his players.
Marco Reus hails the new boss as the best coach he’s ever had after the two worked together at Borussia Monchengladbach. After the young Reus was rejected by Dortmund, Favre coached him into Germany’s Player of the Year and the two now meet again at Reus’ boyhood club.
And Favre coached popular Dortmund right-back Lukasz Piszczek when he was boss at Hertha Berlin.
BVB fans can expect to see Christian Pulisic play against Liverpool despite the much-admired midfielder being subject of speculation of an imminent move to the Premier League, with Sunday’s opponents being linked as well as Spurs. And Liverpool fans will recognise the attacking threat of former Chelsea striker Andre Schurrle, but new midfield signing Thomas Delaney is yet to join the party.
It’s all bubbling up to be a fascinating clash in the US, and you can keep up with all the Liverpool vs Borussia Dortmund updates here at SBOBET.
History
Jurgen Klopp will always be popular with the BVB fans, but I bet they wish they could put one over on their old hero. Since he took over at Anfield, the Liverpool boss has guided the Reds to a Europa League win in the UK and a draw in Germany against his old side.
Liverpool have already played three friendly games against lower-league opposition in the North West of England, hammering Chester 7-0 and beating Tranmere Rovers 3-2, before playing out a goalless draw with fourth-tier club Bury.
Meanwhile, Dortmund gave Favre a winning start with a 1-0 win over Austria Wien, and they’ll be determined to give Liverpool a good game here. But first, they meet EPL champions Manchester City.
What are the odds?
I can’t see the BVB fans getting their wish on Sunday, and the odds suggest I’m probably right! Liverpool are favourites at 2.10 to win, with the draw at 3.40 and Dortmund at 2.90.
We do think there will be goals in this game, as in any involving Jurgen Klopp’s teams, and over 3.5 is available at 2.25.
With Karius under pressure, a high-scoring draw isn’t out of the question and you can get odds of 11.00 on a 2-2 draw.
And to take some risk out of backing the Bundesliga outfit, BVB are at 2.20 to win; Draw no Bet.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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