Liverpool arrange games against Stuttgart & Red Bull Salzburg

Liverpool will gear up for their Premier League title defence with two friendlies in the coming week.

Jurgen Klopp's side will play German Bundesliga side VFB Stuttgart as part of their Austrian training camp this Saturday at 5pm British time.

They will then take on the Austrian Bundesliga champions Red Bull Salzburg in a friendly at the Red Bull Arena on Tuesday August 25, kick-off 3pm BST.

Liverpool are currently in the Alpine town of Saalfelden in Austria as they continue their pre-season preparations ahead of the FA Community Shield against Arsenal on August 29.

The new Premier League season kicks off on September 12 and Liverpool fans will discover their fixtures for the new league season at 9am on Thursday morning.

Their training camp has continued despite a positive coronavirus test in the past few days. The club has not disclosed the identity of the person.

Speaking about the two friendlies, Klopp told the club's official website: 'We are really pleased that we found this calibre of opponent.

'The agency who helped us with organisation came up immediately with Stuttgart and said they are in the area so maybe we can make a game there.

'Then they were happy, we are very happy, so that's good, first and foremost.

'We know, meanwhile, that Red Bull was really in all the plannings here, so I'm happy that we can do that.

'From a sports point of view, it's important for us obviously after the mini-break to find our feet as quick as possible.'

Stuttgart won promotion back to the Bundesliga after finishing second in the second division last season.

They have played Liverpool just the once, a pre-season friendly in Germany ahead of the 1980-81 season.

The Reds played Red Bull Salzburg only last season, in the group stage of the Champions League. Klopp's team won 4-3 at Anfield and 2-0 in Austria.

Liverpool signed Japanese forward Takumi Minamino from Salzburg for £7.25million back in January.