Liverpool Lose Friendly to Huddersfield Town

Liverpool lost a behind-closed-doors friendly featuring senior squad members against Championship pacesetters Huddersfield Town. The two sides locked horns in friendly action in July as part of both clubs' pre-season preparations. Liverpool won 2-0 that day with goals from Marko Grujić and Alberto Moreno, but Huddersfield emerged victorious today.

Alex Manninger, Roberto Firmino, Joël Matip, James Milner, Lucas Leiva, Alberto Moreno, and Danny Ings all featured at Melwood's training complex. With the exception of Firmino, who was taken off with four minutes of normal time remaining, senior players completed 90 minutes.

Ovie Ejaria—who has been earning the praise of Liverpool Academy coach Michael Beale—scored in a 2-1 defeat. Ejaria's goal gave Liverpool the lead before the visiting side replied with goals from Jack Payne and Chelsea loanee (one of many scattered around the globe) Kasey Palmer.

Both Wagner and Klopp are smart enough to ensure that their players remain sharp during the international break, and Liverpool are going to be playing one game a week most weeks. In fact, there are only two more EFL Cup rounds to contend with in 2016 if Derby are beaten later in the month. There's no reason why entering the busy festive schedule fit and fresh should be a problem for Klopp's charges.

While it is always heartening to see a number of youngsters involved, the priority has to be building and maintaining the fitness of senior players ahead of a home game with Premier League champions Leicester City after the international break. Liverpool will be hoping to return to action with three points in the club's first home game of the season before a difficult trip to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.