Jurgen Klopp has just shown Liverpool tactic for new season after third summer signing

There might not be a more commonly-used than 'minutes into the legs' from football managers throughout the month of July.

Whether that is a Premier League boss or whoever is at the helm of a Sunday League side, the same sentiment applies.

Ultimately, summer friendlies count for little - especially the opening match. They're nothing more than run-outs, a chance to blow out the cobwebs and rebuild match fitness.

No-one of Liverpool persuasion will scarcely remember the 4-2 victory over Karlsruher in years to come. If the scoreline had been reversed, there might have been some hysteria on social media. That's part and parcel of this day and age.

Yet a win is a win. It's better psychologically than a defeat for the Reds. Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez are all off the mark while there were unofficial debuts for Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai after they arrived from Brighton and RB Leipzig respectively for a combined fee of £90 million. Both made decent impressions.

The most telling thing from the workout, however, was one particular tactic that Jurgen Klopp deployed. The Liverpool boss had a dearth of midfield options for the encounter because of several reasons. Jordan Henderson sat out the game after the Reds verbally agreed a £12 million fee with Saudi Arabia outfit Al-Ettifad. Fabinho, meanwhile, didn't even travel to Germany as he edges closer to a £40 million move to Al-Ittihad.

Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic were both absent as they continue comebacks from respective hip and adductor injuries. And Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott only meet up with the squad today, having been granted time off having helped England under-21s to European Championship glory.

That meant that Trent Alexander-Arnold started in central midfield, operating the deepest in the number-six role. As expected, some of his passing was excellent.

A permanent switch to the engine room is something that some Kopites have clamoured for over the past few years. Those calls have become more vociferous after his shift to a hybrid right-back/ centre-midfield role towards the end of last season. It proved highly fruitful, with Liverpool going unbeaten in the final 11 games to finish fifth in the Premier League and qualify for the Europa League.

But judged on the Karlsruher clash, it appears that Alexander-Arnold's remit will remain similar to the back end of 2022-23.

While Alexander-Arnold sprayed the ball around effortlessly, Klopp wasn't exactly enthused. "I said to the boys already in the second half after 20 minutes, 'I think you played double the passes from the last line into the half spaces than the complete first half'," the Liverpool boss admitted in his post-match interview. "Whereas we were waiting, give the ball to Trent, let’s see what he can do – and that makes no sense."

What's more, the positions that Conor Bradley - who was deployed on the right-hand side of defence - were telling. The 20-year-old thrived on loan at Bolton Wanderers last term and will correctly be looking to break his way into Klopp's plans. Bradley is known for being more of a wing-back - yet took up central positions when the Reds were in possession akin to Alexander-Arnold.

Meanwhile, in the second half, Joe Gomez operated as a conventional full-back on the right. But on the opposite flank, Kostas Tsimikas was tasked with tucking into the middle of the park when Liverpool were in possession.

The Greece international scarcely appeared comfortable. However, it underlined that Klopp is looking to hone the tactic regardless of personnel. He wants his troops to become accustomed to functioning in such a manner heading into the opening fixture of the Premier League campaign against Chelsea on 12 August.

As thing stand, only Bajcetic is capable of filling the defensive midfielder void. He's currently recovering from an injury that required surgery in March, though. What's more, the 18-year-old has just 11 top-flight appearances to his name - far too few to head into a season with if the ambition is challenging for silverware.

If Klopp's blueprint is to be successful, with Alexander-Arnold flittering between defence and midfield then it's clear; Liverpool require a battle-hardened replacement for Henderson and Fabinho.