Liverpool youth will have the chance to impress Jurgen Klopp against Bradford City

When Liverpool visited Bradford City 19 years ago, it cost them football in the UEFA Champions League. They return to Valley Parade Sunday as the winners of the Champions League. Many other things have changed: the defeat of Gerard Houllier in May 2000 was the result that allowed Bradford to stay in the Premier League.

Now, City, a club that has had a difficult time, is in fourth place. A friendly match will help raise funds for the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, created by former club defender Stephen Darby, who had to retire at only 29 years old after being diagnosed with motor neuropathy.

The cause is special, but the game is typical. Liverpool beat Tranmere Rovers 6-0 on Thursday and, unlike their peers, they tend to start with local games against lower division teams. This is the preference of Jurgen Klopp.

The returns of the players of the first team were staggered, according to their international obligations during the summer. Most Champions League winners will not play until Liverpool are faced with higher-caliber opponents in Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla and Sporting Lisbon, USA. . Still, there is still some significance for those competing for places on the team.

Rhian Brewster, winner of the Under-17 World Cup, who scored twice against Tranmere, is expected to play the role of the late Daniel Sturridge. "I told him that he had an important role to play this season, but its importance depends on him," Klopp said.

Brewster is essentially a center forward, but Klopp thinks he "must also be able to offer an option on the wings. Xherdan Shaqiri is injured in a calf and wonders if Sadio Mane, still in action of the Africa Cup of Nations, Mohamed Salah and the Copa America winner, Roberto Firmino, will be in good shape for the start of the season. Liverpool lacks attacks right now. This offers opportunities for the emerging and neglected.

Harry Wilson, an 18-goal scorer for Derby County last season, was not expected at Anfield this season, but Klopp felt that he had played "remarkably" against Tranmere. Ben Woodburn, the third youngest player in Liverpool history, had a lost season but was only 19 and Klopp praised his efforts on Thursday. Bobby Duncan, 18, scored then and the striker is reinforced by the fact that he is Steven Gerrard's cousin.

Then there is Adam Lewis, a teenager born in Liverpool, who, like Brewster, could benefit from a summer outing. The left-back could replace Alberto Moreno, new Villarreal player, as Andrew Robertson's substitute.

The novelty factor does not come from new recruits. Liverpool's two additions, youngsters Sepp van den Berg and Harvey Elliott, may not appear yet. Liverpool has not signed a senior contract yet. The hints have long been that they could not.

Klopp avoided the lack of activity by suggesting that he had reinforcing stocks. "We have already brought them, only you have not noticed," he said Thursday. These are the two players Brewster and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, players who did not play last season due to injury. Naby Keita, who has had a first-year stop-start, joins Oxlade-Chamberlain to offer the potential for greater dynamism in the midfield.

This can explain an experience. The pre-season tends to give a first glimpse of Klopp's thought. In 2016, it was shown that James Milner was becoming a left-back. In 2017, Gini Wijnaldum had a glimpse of the midfield.

Now Adam Lallana has worked as No 6 at Prenton Park; perhaps his fine touch, his willingness to push and his understanding of the manager's demands will help him to play a deeper role. Although some of the attention is focused on young people, an older Klopp favorite could be reinvented.