Brendan Rodgers feels the International Champions Cup has given his Liverpool team “plenty of positives” ahead of the new Premier League campaign despite their 3-1 final defeat against Manchester United on Monday night.
The Reds, who just missed out to Manchester City on the title last season, enjoyed some strong performances in the United States with victories against Olympiakos and AC Milan, a penalty shoot-out win over Manchester City and a narrow 1-0 defeat to Roma.
Those results were enough to see them through to the final to face old rivals United in Miami but they ended up on the wrong end of a 3-1 scoreline.
Skipper Steven Gerrard fired Liverpool in front from the spot after Phil Jones fouled Raheem Sterling in the box, but United fought back to win thanks to second-half goals from Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard.
Despite the disappointing end to the trip, Rodgers insisted he is “delighted with the whole tournament and what it’s done for us”.
He added: “We have worked very hard and we will leave here with plenty of positives and look forward to the new season.
“The condition of the players that we have at the moment is very good. We’ve obviously got a few missing but certainly by Southampton we will be ready and we are looking forward to it.”
Liverpool, who are 11.00 to win the Premier League this season, are 1.37 to defeat Southampton in their Premier League opener on August 17. The Saints are 6.70 and the draw is 4.53.
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