Jürgen Klopp Embraces Liverpool's Difficult Preseason Period

Jürgen Klopp is not one to shy away from challenges. It's why he took the managerial job at Liverpool in the first place and why he's embraced each setback his team has faced under his watch as an opportunity for growth.

As such, he expects his players to handle adversity and bounce back from the negative moments that come with the grueling Premier League season. To help build that mindset, Klopp is interested in making the pre-season period difficult for the Reds.

Liverpool's recent 1-0 friendly victory over Tranmere Rovers, which required a late push for a winning goal, featured the type of challenge the manager is looking for.

"We want to have the problems in the pre-season and be well prepared in the Premier League," Klopp said. "It's always nice to see the very young lads in games like this and think ‘oh!' because they make really big steps."

"We need these moments in the pre-season to go through. If it's easy in each game in the pre-season, then we get the first problem in the first game in the Premier League," he added.

Between triple training sessions and a loaded friendly schedule, Liverpool will be pushed hard this summer. And while that will be a nuisance to some players in the short term, it should provide the necessary training to meet Klopp's ambitious expectations when the games actually matter.