Despite already having four dates on their summer tour plus a friendly against Preston North End just prior to departing for the United States, Liverpool have added another friendly to their list of pre-season games and this time it's a big one: Borussia Dortmund are coming to Merseyside on August 10.
Liverpool face the likes of Roma, Olympiacos, Manchester City, and AC Milan while in the USA, but pre-season friendlies back home in Europe have usually taken place away from Anfield. Last year the club's only game at home was Steven Gerrard's testimonial vs Olympiacos, and the match against Dortmund will likewise be the only one at home in front of the Anfield faithful before the Premier League season kicks off less than a week later.
It's an exciting opponent for a variety of reasons, not least of all because Dortmund are a legitimate title challenger and Champions League competitor year after year in Germany. Liverpool often draws comparisons with Dortmund owing to both clubs' focus on youth, the presence of a fervent fan base, and a dug-in manager with a vision for his team. The fact that both clubs choose "You'll Never Walk Alone" as an anthem is a bonus that should raise Anfield to full voice on the day.
The match falling a mere week before the new season kicks off will be beneficial to Liverpool's preparations. It's rare for Liverpool to face other top European clubs when at relatively full strength during pre-season, especially in a World Cup year with so many players missing due to international or vacation commitments, and Dortmund could present a fantastic opportunity for Liverpool to prove their quality against the type of opposition they're likely to face a month later once the Champions League group stage begins.
Dortmund's visit also marks the return of Nuri Sahin to his old home, plus former Liverpool target Henrikh Mkhitaryan will play at Anfield for the first time. Without a doubt, the Kop will show the latter what he missed out on, no matter how fantastic the famed Yellow Wall of the Westfalenstadion might be.