After their latest pre-season friendly match against Sporting CP, Liverpool has finally concluded their US Tour from Indiana to New York. I must say, so far the tour has not been kind to Liverpool as the vigorous training, the friendly matches and extreme heat wave might have taken a toll on a few players.
After three friendly matches during the tour, losing 3 – 2 to Borussia Dortmund, Losing 2 – 1 in an ill-tempered match with Sevilla, and then Drawing 2 – 2 with Sporting CP, it was confirmed that Nathaniel Clyne, Yasser Larouci, Adam Lallana and Oxlade Chamberlain have all succumbed to injuries. Clyne had the toughest of luck after it is confirmed that he has to be sidelined for 6 months after injuring his knee ligament. The rest however only had minor injuries, and should be fully fit within a couple of weeks.
Currently, the US and even Europe are being hampered by record breaking heat wave that is nearly or even more than 100 Degrees Fahrenheit. That is equal to the heat experienced in Tropical Countries. The friendly matches Liverpool had during the US Tour is done in the evening where at one point the players had to endure playing when the temperature reached 92 Degrees Fahrenheit. That is extremely hot and energy sapping, especially when you have to train under the same condition in the morning session and then heavily involved during the match.
In my opinion, the tour hasn’t been really good to Liverpool based on the injuries of some players and the results of the friendly matches. It seems like the tour has an adverse effect on the player’s fitness and arguably making them more prone to injuries, not mentioning injuries caused by a few dubious physical challenge from the opposing team. The vigorous pre-season training might also has a detrimental effect on players who are known to be physically fragile. And I would really like to know what kind of an effect to the players mentally after losing twice and drawing a game. Can they cope with the result and be 100% ready to face the fast approaching new season?
There are two more friendly matches to go against Napoli and Lyon, and it’ll be interesting to see whether Liverpool can rediscover their winning forms again. Losing these 2 matches, and I am sure that the whole team will be scratching their head looking for the reason causing them to perform badly.