The traditional Wembley season opener, against FA Cup winners Arsenal, comes just 34 days after the end of the extended league season.

“Would I want to play a proper game after two weeks’ preparation? No,” said Klopp.

“But it’s not a friendly, it’s a proper match against Arsenal.”

The Gunners have had even less time off – their FA Cup win came just four weeks ago – and Klopp expects both sides to go all out for a win.

“For us, like Arsenal, we prepare for a whole season – one of the most intense, probably, we have ever experienced in our lives because of the amount of games and the time we have for that,” he said.

“It will be intense but nobody is moaning. We are happy we can play at all.

“It’s as perfect as we can be and we will try everything to win the game and Arsenal will do the same.”

Centre-back Virgil van Dijk will be fit despite suffering a head injury in Tuesday’s friendly against Salzburg, but right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold may not feature due to a minor injury.

Captain Jordan Henderson, midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and defender Joel Matip all remain sidelined.

Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno is back in training after a knee injury and could start, with defender William Saliba expected to make his debut. Continue reading

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