Five things we learnt from Liverpool's pre-season tour

#5 Klopp building a versatile team

Coutinho is slowly moving into a central midfield role to dictate play

The pre-season threw light on how Klopp's coaching is allowing the players to play in multiple positions. While last season saw a rewarding positional shift for Lallana and Henderson, there is visible flexibility in most of the squad this time around.

Philippe Coutinho is playing deeper and dictating play, with his assists to Salah a definite sign of how comfortable he is in the role. Ben Woodburn is following in Coutinho's footsteps and both playmakers can play on the wings as well as in midfield. The same was seen in the case of Ryan Kent who played in central midfield a few times.

Firmino can comfortably play across the front three

Solanke played behind the striker as well as on the wings, gelling well with Liverpool's fluid attack. Salah played on his preferred right-wing which meant Mane shifted to the left and the Senegalese did not put a foot wrong. Both Origi and Sturridge have a tendency to drift out wide despite starting in a central position. Liverpool's new no.9 Roberto Firmino can play anywhere in the front three and almost always plays in the false 9 role.

In midfield, Can and Wijnaldum can play in both the no.6 and no.8 roles while the targetted midfielders such as Naby Keita are versatile as well.

This pre-season showed glimpses of the famed "Total Football" tactic where every player can play in different positions.

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Thus, Liverpool's pre-season saw them progress as a team under Klopp but it also highlighted the deficiencies that need to be addressed.