Liverpool’s plans for the World Cup break are continuing to take shape with the Reds set to face Lyon in a mid-season friendly in Dubai.
Jurgen Klopp's side are flying out to the region to coincide with the Qatar World Cup this winter as they undertake something akin to a pre-season training camp during the tournament, with plans for friendlies while away currently in the pipeline.
With a glamorous clash with AC Milan already in the works, the ECHO understands that the team will also take on Lyon while away for their mid-season training camp. Liverpool had previously looked at setting up a base in Cape Town, South Africa, before deciding that Dubai would be easier given the relatively short flight from Qatar for those eliminated from the World Cup.
READ MORE: 'It’s going to happen again' - Kyle Walker sends warning to Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold
It remains unclear when or where either friendly meeting will take place as top clubs look to use their time off from domestic action by keeping their non-internationals sharp. Liverpool’s last match before the World Cup is at home to Southampton on November 12, with their next Premier League fixture falling away at Aston Villa on Boxing Day.
However, should the Reds beat Derby County in next month’s League Cup third round tie, they will take part in the tournament’s fourth round which is scheduled to take place in the midweek before the Christmas weekend.
Klopp is keen to use part of that break at a training base that will mimic the work typically undertaken during pre-season, with such plans already in place even before Liverpool’s poor start to the season. Meanwhile, the majority of the Reds squad will be part of the group that reports for duty in Dubai, with the club not expected to have too many players competing at the Qatar World Cup.
During the last international break, Alisson Becker, Fabinho, Roberto Firmino, Virgil van Dijk, Jordan Henderson, Diogo Jota, and Darwin Nunez were the only players called up by their respective nations who are set to compete at this year’s World Cup. Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konate, Thiago Alcantara, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harvey Elliott all have varying chances of also being called up.
As a result, the likes of Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, Joel Matip, James Milner and Kostas Tsimikas are set to be part of Klopp’s squad in Dubai, along with Luis Diaz and Naby Keita following injury, after their nations failed to qualify or their own international retirement, and are poised to lock horns with both AC Milan and Lyon this winter.
Liverpool have only twice faced Lyon in competitive action, coming in the Champions League group stages in 2009/10 as they drew 1-1 in France before falling to a last-minute 2-1 defeat at Anfield. However, goals from Roberto Firmino and Harry Wilson, along with a Joachim Andersen own goal, saw the Reds come from behind to record a 3-1 friendly win over the Ligue 1 outfit in Geneva the last time they met back in July 2019.
READ NEXT
-
Pep Guardiola makes major Liverpool claim after ruling out three Man City players due to injury
-
'Found that out' - Ex-Liverpool star Adam Lallana aims brutal on-air dig at Gary Neville
-
We signed 'new Mohamed Salah' for Liverpool and he ousted Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota
-
Full Liverpool squad available to face Man City as six players out and fresh injury doubt emerges
