Jurgen Klopp has warned Liverpool's unorthodox preparations could influence the start of their season.
Roberto Firmino and Alisson are on holiday after winning Copa America with Brazil. Mohamed Salah is also on a break after being knocked out of the African Cup of Nations, while Sadio Mane has reached the last four of the tournament with Senegal.
Asked by the club's website if Liverpool's form last season gives them added motivation for this term, Klopp said: "[It's] nothing to do with that. We want to play the best season we can play, like we wanted to do last year, but we have no idea what that means for what happens to all the other teams Man United, Chelsea, Tottenham so it will be a new season and we have to be ready for that.
"For us, I am really happy about the game tonight but it is a difficult pre-season for us. Sadio Mane is in the semi-finals [of the Africa Cup of Nations], so that means he has two more games for sure and will come [back] late.
"The Brazilians have finally finished their 30-month season, exactly like Mo, and they will come but we will not have a pre-season together, we will only have a week before we start with the games.
"Tonight it looked like we can find some solutions. Last season is a good sign for us, it showed us what we can achieve, but we have to be as good as last year and, in the best case, be better. We will see what the outcome will be."
