Two Nigerian-born attackers, Sheyi Ojo and Dominic Solanke are both seeking various shades of relevance with Liverpool in the coming days.
While Ojo looks good to play a key role in pre-season with the Reds, after a spell on loan last season at Fulham, Solanke is keen to score more goals for Liverpool in the upcoming season
Whilst on the books of Chelsea, Solanke spent the entirety of the 2015-2016 season on loan at Vitesse and netted 7 goals from 26 appearances for the Dutch club.
The 20-year-old made his senior debut for England against Brazil in November 2017 but remains eligible to represent Nigeria.
On his part, Ojo will definitely figure for Liverpool when they take on Chester in their opening pre-season fixture .
Ojo spent the entirety of last season on loan at newly-promoted Premier League side Fulham, scoring 4 goals in 22 league appearances.
He was among the first players to report for pre-season training, along with England under-21 teammate, Solanke.
Solanke is hoping to make a bigger impact, after waiting until the final day of the 2017-18 season before scoring his first senior professional football competitive goal in England.
Solanke celebrated his first goal in a Liverpool shirt in the 53rd minute of their 4-0 thrashing of Brighton on May 13 and ended the campaign with 27 first-team games under his belt.
The former Chelsea youth team player is now showing top form in training at Melwood with other first-teamers ahead of Saturday’s pre-season match against Chester.
”It’s always difficult when you haven’t got your first goal. To get that was a relief. I’m happy I’ve got that now so I can build on that.”
Liverpool boss, Jürgen Klopp hinted that both are in line to feature at Lookers Vauxhall Stadium as he intends to use all the players available for selection.
Klopp hopes to name two different starting XI for each half against the non-leaguers, just as he did in their opening pre-season game against Tranmere Rovers a year ago.
Klopp said : ”That makes sense, from the intensity side. After the holidays, the boys have to adapt to the intensity and stuff like that – all the things we did in training. So it makes sense that they play 45 minutes.
”I’m not sure if we have two complete teams because not really all positions are covered. But that’s the plan. Go there and get used to proper football again, that’s why we do it.”
