Use your head like Sadio and subscribe to the Liverpool FC newsletter Sign me up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Talk about lurching from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Hot on the heels of demolishing Barcelona at Wembley, Liverpool found themselves on the receiving end of a pasting as Mainz ran riot at the Opel Arena.

There was no glorious homecoming for Jurgen Klopp as a gruelling pre-season schedule reached an inauspicious conclusion.

In fact the Reds boss could scarcely conceal his disdain after watching a much changed line up deliver such a lifeless performance.

The scoreline didn't flatter the Bundesliga club which Klopp served with distinction as player and then manager for 18 years. Liverpool were outplayed and outfought in all departments.

Everything that was so pleasing on the eye under Wembley's giant arch less than 24 hours earlier was missing here.

There was no pace, no intensity, no dynamism, no tempo, no show of controlled aggression.

If the thrashing of an under-cooked Barcelona provided an exciting glimpse of the Reds putting Klopp's blueprint into action, this was a world away from what the manager has spent the past five weeks demanding from them.

Of course a sense of perspective is required.

This was a very different Liverpool team with Adam Lallana and Emre Can the only players retained from the XI which started at Wembley.

Nobody who played more than 45 minutes in the capital was on duty in Germany, but Klopp's belief that he could juggle his resources to ensure the Reds did themselves justice in both games proved misplaced.

On a baking hot afternoon in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Liverpool wilted. Even those who only played a minor part against Barcelona looked horribly leggy.

Preparations were hardly ideal with it being past midnight by the time they checked into the city's Favorite Parkhotel on Saturday night after a late flight from London.

But Klopp's agitated demeanour on the touchline as he furiously barked orders underlined the fact that he expected much better than this.

The Liverpool manager had insisted in the bowels of Wembley that places were still available to face Arsenal in their Premier League opener at the Emirates next Sunday. But nobody staked a claim.

Joel Matip started brightly enough on his return to the team after three weeks out with an ankle problem but then his lack of recent action was exposed.

It's difficult to see the Cameron international centre-back getting the nod to face the Gunners, especially considering the composed displays delivered in his absence by Ragnar Klavan.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Buying a left-back remains the priority, especially given the fact that James Milner looks set to miss the big kick-off due to a heel injury.

However, unless Klopp moves quickly to address that weakness this week it will be the much maligned Alberto Moreno joining Nathaniel Clyne, Dejan Lovren and Klavan in the back four at the Emirates.

Emre Can was among those way off the pace against Mainz but it would be a big surprise if he was overlooked against Arsenal. The real question is whether Klopp goes with captain Jordan Henderson or summer signing Gini Wijnaldum alongside him.

Unlike Sadio Mane who lit up Wembley on Saturday, £25million man Wijnaldum has yet to truly make his mark and might need more time to adjust to his new surroundings.

Mane has already nailed down a spot in an attacking trio which is likely to include Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana, operating just behind either Roberto Firmino or Divock Origi.

Daniel Sturridge could yet be fit but Klopp knows he can't bank on it.

This was a big day for Mainz as they officially opened the Opel Arena and their supporters paid homage to a returning hero.

Everywhere Klopp turned there was an old friend waiting to embrace him and the hosts chanted his name vociferously.

Reds keeper Loris Karius, who underwent surgery on his broken hand last week, also made an appearance on the pitch before kick-off as Mainz presented him with a gift to recognise his service to the club prior to his £4.7million summer move to Anfield.

Klopp handed starts to Academy rookies Ben Woodburn and Trent Alexander-Arnold but the senior players around them weren't able to show them the way.

Liverpool fell behind after 15 minutes. Andre Wisdom slid in to block a cross and was harshly penalised for handball.

Daniel Brosinski stepped up to beat Alex Manninger from the spot.

The Reds repeatedly gave possession away cheaply and struggled to create opportunities.

Henderson, the deepest lying midfielder in Klopp's 4-3-3 formation, blocked Pablo De Blasis' volley before Christian Clemens skipped past Moreno but drilled wide. When Marko Grujic released Origi, the finish was horribly wayward.

Grujic, who had put the icing on the cake against Barcelona, hobbled off after turning his ankle but Klopp insisted it was only a minor issue.

Just before half-time it was 2-0. Jhon Cordoba burst through a gaping hole in Liverpool's backline. Matip was slow to react and couldn't get across to cover and Manninger was beaten far too easily at his near post. Simon Mignolet will sleep soundly.

Klopp made four changes at the break with Connor Randall, Kevin Stewart, Cameron Brannagan and Toni Gomes on for Alexander-Arnold, Can, Lallana and Woodburn.

That was a senior bow for young Guinea-Bissau attacker Gomes, who is highly rated by the club's Academy staff.

Teenage left-back Sam Hart also got a first run out but with Mainz so firmly in control this was hardly the ideal environment for them to showcase their potential.

Yunus Malli punished more slack defending as he found the bottom corner from 20 yards and then the unmarked Yoshinori Muto headed past Manninger.

Danny Ings' hopes of grabbing a late consolation were dashed by the offside flag.

History suggests that friendly results like this count for little.

Rafa Benitez's Liverpool were thrashed 5-0 by Klopp's Mainz 10 years ago this weekend.

Nine months later the Reds were walking out in the Champions League final in Athens - Mainz had just been relegated from the Bundesliga.

Liverpool will certainly be unrecognisable at the Emirates next Sunday. Kopites have seen enough in pre-season to simply write this off as an anomaly.

But this chastening afternoon may just serve a purpose if it focuses a few minds after the dizzy heights of humbling Barcelona.

Liverpool v Mainz: Manninger, Alexander-Arnold (Randall 45), Wisdom, Matip, Moreno (Hart 61), Can (Stewart 45), Henderson (Wijnaldum 74), Grujic (Ings 40), Lallana (Gomes 45), Woodburn (Brannagan 45), Origi (Firmino 74)