Borussia Dortmund

Liverpool kick off their pre-season tour of the United States against Borussia Dortmund on Sunday, as the two teams meet in the 2018 International Champions Cup.

The match pits Reds boss Jurgen Klopp against his former club at the Bank of America Stadium in North Carolina.

Liverpool will be without several of their top stars after their exploits at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but there will still be plenty of talent on show for both teams.

    

Date: Sunday, July 22

Time: 9:05 p.m. BST/4:05 p.m. ET

TV Info: ESPN (U.S.), Premier Sports (UK)

Live Stream: ESPN Player, Premier Player

    

Liverpool have been busy in the transfer window, and their new signings will be hoping for game time in the United States.

New arrivals Fabinho and Naby Keita will form part of a new-look midfield. They will also help make up for the loss of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is expected to miss the whole of the season with injury.

Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Marko Grujic were given extended time off after the World Cup but will be part of the tour, per James Carroll at the club's official website.

However, Roberto Firmino, Simon Mignolet, Dejan Lovren and Liverpool's England internationals are not due to return until after the tour, per Chris Shaw at Liverpool's website. 

Keita looks an exciting addition after moving from RB Leipzig. He impressed in Liverpool's friendly against Blackburn Rovers on Thursday.

The midfielder linked well with striker Daniel Sturridge and set up Liverpool's second goal.

Football writer Artur Petrosyan offered his view:

Keita + Liverpool's front three will potentially form the deadliest quartet football has ever seen.

— Artur Petrosyan (@arturpetrosyan) July 19, 2018

Keita will be no stranger to Borussia Dortmund after spending two years in the Bundesliga with Leipzig. He also scored the winner against Dortmund on his Bundesliga debut in September 2017.

Lucien Favre's side open up their International Champions Cup campaign against Manchester City on Friday (Saturday UK time), and the manager will likely rotate his team to play Liverpool.

United States international Christian Pulisic will be a big draw and played a key role for the club last season.

The 19-year-old has become one of the most highly-valued youngsters in world football:

Kylian Mbappe is the most valuable U21 player in the world by a ton, according to @Soccerex 💰 pic.twitter.com/csoOfE9glR

— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 19, 2018

Favre was only confirmed as Dortmund manager in May after replacing Peter Stoger and will have his work cut out after a disappointing season last time out.

The club could only finish fourth in the league and a big improvement will be expected. Borussia Dortmund have made moves in the transfer window by bringing in France under-21 defender Abdou Diallo and midfielder Thomas Delaney from Werder Bremen. Goalkeeper Marwin Hitz has also arrived from Augsburg and midfielder Marius Wolf from Eintracht Frankfurt.

It will be interesting to see how Dortmund fare under Favre, but this promises to be an exciting clash between two teams who tend to play attractive, attacking football.

Mario Gotze netted a first-half penalty to lead Borussia Dortmund to a 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the opening match of the 2018 International Champions Cup on Friday at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Gotze stepped up to the spot in the 28th minute after American teenager Christian Pulisic earned the penalty. He converted the attempt off the outreached hand of City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo. It was the spotlight moment of a solid preseason performance for the German midfielder.

Meanwhile, Riyad Mahrez made his debut for the reigning Premier League champions and provided a couple of sparks for an otherwise lackluster City attack that featured a lot of youthful contributors.

City acquired Mahrez on a £60 million transfer from Leicester City earlier this month. The Algerian international was one of the driving forces behind the Foxes' miracle run to the 2015-16 Premier League championship, and he'll attempt to help his new club secure back-to-back titles.

The 27-year-old winger navigated a mostly uneventful first match with the Sky Blues. He controlled the pace of play well when on the ball and showcased his playmaking ability, highlighted by a well-placed free kick that forced Dortmund goalkeeper Marwin Hitz to make a save right before the halftime whistle.

That silky Mahrez touch has ben exquisite so far for #MCFC (kiss of death alert)

— Stuart Brennan (@StuartBrennan63) July 21, 2018

Free kick to #ManCity - Lukas Nmecha brought down - not the natural side for Mahrez but he produces a great free kick saved by the keep - HT in the rain 1-0 City trail

— Ian Cheeseman (@IanCheeseman) July 21, 2018

Mahrez was subbed out after 72 minutes, but his impact will be expected to steadily increase as the new term moves closer. He's aiming high after completing the long-rumored move.

"City have ambition to go further than the Champions League quarter-finals like they did last season," he told reporters in his introductory press conference. "I made the decision to come here because I want to be part of that. The Champions League is for big clubs. They're a big club, they have everything to try to win it."

Meanwhile, Pulisic is facing a key season for Dortmund. While the 19-year-old American is also viewed as the centerpiece of the United States national team, he's coming off an up-and-down campaign for BVB with four goals and five assists in 32 Bundesliga appearances.

The talented midfielder must work to become a more consistent attacking threat. He started the preseason well in that regard as he was a constant presence in the final third and drew the foul in the box that led to Gotze's opening goal from the spot.

https://twitter.com/City_Watch/status/1020483829914644480

Why does every Pulisic touch bring back all the missing-out-on-Russia pain all over again?

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 21, 2018

All told, it was a pretty standard preseason fixture with each manager testing a variety of players and utilizing ample substitutions. It was far from a clinical performance by either side with 23 combined fouls compared to six shots on target.

Both clubs will return to action next week against Liverpool as their U.S. tours continue. Dortmund will take on the Reds at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Sunday, while Manchester City are set to battle their EPL counterparts Wednesday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Borussia Dortmund have signed right-back Achraf Hakimi from Real Madrid on a two-year loan, keeping the Morocco international at the Westfalenstadion until the summer of 2020.

Hakimi leaves Madrid for Germany after making 17 senior appearances for Real last term. Borussia Dortmund's official Twitter account confirmed the deal on Wednesday, and Goal's Harry Sherlock provided further details about the switch.

The 19-year-old played in all three of Morocco's group games at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and moves to the Bundesliga hoping for a better opportunity at first-team football, with Lukasz Piszczek and Jeremy Toljan his competition.

Real also confirmed Hakimi's loan departure on their official website. 

Under Dortmund's guidance, the Spanish side will hope he'll return to the Santiago Bernabeu with the ability to impact their first-team plans more prominently.

Goal's Ronan Murphy hailed the signing as an astute one for the Black and Yellows, who will be managed by Lucien Favre heading into the new season after parting ways with Peter Stoger:

OFFICIAL: Borussia Dortmund have signed Real Madrid and Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi on a two-year loan deal.

Great signing for #BVB, one of the world’s best young full-backs. Hasn’t had much chances at Real, so good move for him too. No mention of a buy-out clause. pic.twitter.com/Wpaviz4CBs

— Ronan Murphy (@swearimnotpaul) July 11, 2018

Dani Carvajal governs the right-back slot at Real, but now-departed manager Zinedine Zidane often showed a preference to use centre-back Nacho in the position, ahead of Hakimi, when the former was out of commission.

With long-term servant Piszczek now 33 and Toljan still growing into Dortmund's plans, Hakimi can hope to have a bigger role in Germany over the next two campaigns.

Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha is reportedly attracting interest from Borussia Dortmund, with the club keen to agree a deal for the player after he turned down a new contract at Selhurst Park. 

TalkSport reported on Dortmund's plan to offload wide man Andriy Yarmolenko to West Ham United to free up space and funds to sign Zaha, who rejected a new deal said to be worth £115,000 per week.

The 25-year-old has enjoyed three successful seasons back at Selhurst Park since returning to south London following a disappointing two-year stay with Manchester United.

TalkSport added Everton were one of the other suitors interested in Zaha, while Simon Johnson of the Evening Standard wrote Tottenham Hotspur baulked at his alleged £70 million valuation:

And @sjstandardsport on Tottenham’s interest in Zaha, with the current asking price likely to put them off @standardsport pic.twitter.com/LKSrFG1Ego

— Tom Collomosse (@TomCollomosse) June 7, 2018

That's likely a figure at which Dortmund would also struggle to match considering German clubs don't have nearly the same spending power as their Premier League counterparts.

To put that into context, the Black and Yellows' current transfer record is the €30 million they paid Wolfsburg to sign Andre Schurrle in 2016, and convincing London-raised Zaha to move to the Bundesliga may be difficult.

According to TalkSport, Zaha is "considering a new challenge" after scoring nine goals and recording five assists to help keep Palace in England's top flight, having restored his reputation after stint with United.

Goal explored the Ivory Coast international's transfer prospects this summer and what he might bring to any team fortunate enough to acquire his talents:

Wilfried Zaha... A man in demand this summer? pic.twitter.com/sS4qfrD9Gd

— GOAL (@goal) June 3, 2018

The Eagles have some security in that Zaha has another four years left to run on his contract and was brought through the club's academy since the age of 12.

Writer Chris Miller also pondered whether Zaha may have found his limit at Palace, a club that casts him as their headline star but doesn't offer the same silverware potential he would find elsewhere:

I actually think Zaha came on a lot last season, though I do see him as quite a wasteful player, hence my feeling that he may be better in a weaker team where everything goes through him. I was massively unimpressed with Martial when I saw him, but I may have caught his bad days.

— Chris I’Anson-Miller (@WindyCOYS) May 28, 2018

Dortmund would help in that regard despite placing fourth in the Bundesliga last season, their worst finish since coming seventh in 2014-15, with Lucien Favre looking to begin a new chapter as head coach.

Yarmolenko's departure would serve as an indicator they're looking for a new winger, but the level of competition in the hunt to sign Zaha may see them priced out.

The father of Borussia Dortmund starlet Christian Pulisic has dismissed speculation linking his son with a transfer to a number of different Premier League clubs this summer.

The 19-year-old United States international is rated as one of the best prospects in world football at the moment as he continues to shine for BVB in the Bundesliga.

Rumours have followed, although according to Mark Pulisic, there's little in the links to the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, per Sky Sports:

"He was linked to Tottenham. Last week it was Liverpool. The week before Man United. The week before this…it's hogwash.

"He's linked with a different club every week. I have no idea. His agent right now is working and looking, in close relation with me and Christian, and we're just trying to see what the best phase of his next development will be.

"Now is the time that the season has just ended that we'll sit down with Dortmund, we'll sit down with, I don't know whether others clubs are in the mix, [and see what] Dortmund's idea is and their plans for Christian."

He went on to make clear that at this juncture Pulisic is set to return for Dortmund again next season, where he has a contract until 2020.

As relayed by Sky Sports, Spurs were the most recent club linked with the U.S. men's national team star, with the Daily Telegraph saying Mauricio Pochettino's side were considering a summer offer.

Keith Costigan of Fox Sports believes that Pulisic may benefit from another year at BVB:

Pulisic development reminds me of Brandt at @bayer04_en The German elected to stay an extra year to ensure playing time and has matured this season. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Pulisic make the same decision. Another season at BVB could see him blossom

— keith costigan (@KeithCostigan) May 13, 2018

It's easy to forget Pulisic is still a teenager, as he broke on to the scene at such a young age at the Westfalenstadion.

Since then, he's continued to make strides to the point where he is now a regular first-team player for Dortmund. While there are still raw facets to his game, Pulisic has so much talent and can conjure game-winning moments of brilliance in the black and yellow.

There have been signs of improvement in his end product, too, as last season he totted up five goals and six assists for Borussia.

Journalist Dan Kennett put that return into context against Raheem Sterling, who has blossomed into one of the Premier League's best at Manchester City:

#Pulisic v Sterling to season where turned 19:
Minutes: 5411 v 4365
Goal Involvement: every 225 mins vs every 243
Shots p90: 1.8 v 1.8

— DanKennett.bsky.social (@DanKennett) May 28, 2018

Dortmund have gone through a spell of major transition recently, although they will be hopeful the appointment of Lucien Favre as manager can give them some consistency.

The presence of an astute coach and the implementation of a style of football based on fast transitions may be to the benefit of Pulisic. His ability to carry the ball with pace and agility makes him an ideal fit for the way Favre likes to set his teams up.

You sense the links to Premier League giants will continue throughout the summer when it comes to Pulisic, as he has the potential to go far in the game. In the past, BVB have showed they are willing to cash in for the right price.   

Borussia Dortmund have confirmed Lucien Favre as the club's new manager. 

As relayed by the Bundesliga Twitter account, BVB revealed the appointment on Tuesday, with the 60-year-old signing a two-year contract at the Westfalenstadion:

After nearly three years away, Lucien #Favre is back in the #Bundesliga! 👋 pic.twitter.com/aWXdZ1mIBB

— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) May 22, 2018

Favre takes over from Peter Stoger, who was brought in midway through the previous campaign following the departure of former Ajax manager Peter Bosz.

The Swiss leaves his role at Nice after two years in charge. In 2016-17, he guided the team into third, earning a shock UEFA Champions League place; at the end of the most recent campaign, they finished eighth in Ligue 1.

Favre also has experience in the Bundesliga, and Dortmund fans will be encouraged by the work he did with Borussia Monchengladbach.

After his appointment in 2011, Favre helped BMG off the bottom of the table and stayed afloat in the top flight via a relegation play-off. He then went on to build a successful team that finished fourth in 2011-12 and third in 2014-15.

As noted below by Squawka Football, the former Hertha Berlin coach has a respectable record across European football:

Lucien Favre's managerial record in Europe's top 5 Leagues:

3 clubs
380 games
169 wins
92 draws
119 losses
44.5% win rate

🐝 https://t.co/imQg0XzaFM

— Squawka (@Squawka) May 22, 2018

At Dortmund, he will have a big job to do. While the team were able to finish in fourth last season, there were big issues.

After a bright start to the season Bosz lost his way and was eventually axed. Stoger was brought in as a short-term solution and did little to endear himself to the supporters with a dour style of football. 

They suffered some disappointing results under his tenure in big games. Dortmund were obliterated 6-1 by Bayern, beaten 2-0 by rivals Schalke and on the last day only scraped into the top four after defeat to Hoffenheim.

Still, football writer Lars Pollman believes there are building blocks in place that will help Dortmund do well under Favre:

https://twitter.com/LarsPollmann/status/998856144776040449

Favre's BMG sides were renowned for their counter-attacking prowess. The coach set the side up in a 4-4-2 system, and they were effective when in transition, catching opponents off guard with their sharp interchanges and speed.

Dortmund have players such as Marco Reus and Christian Pulisic who could be devastating if used efficiently in this way, while Jadon Sancho impressed with his blistering pace and trickery late in the campaign.

With that in mind, it's an appointment that makes sense. And after a spell of transition, Dortmund will be hopeful that in Favre they have a safe pair of hands for the next couple of years at least.

Borussia Dortmund are reportedly considering an approach to appoint Arsene Wenger as their next manager as he prepares to end his 22-year tenure at Arsenal, but there are also offers expected from China and Japan. 

Wenger confirmed on Friday he will leave the Emirates Stadium at the end of this season, and Telefoot (h/t Mirror) reported BVB have him in their sights.

The Black and Yellows could part ways with Peter Stoger, who failed to mount a title challenge this season after replacing Peter Bosz midway through the campaign. Bayern Munich were confirmed as Bundesliga champions several weeks ago, with Dortmund third, 24 points below them with three games left.

Fox Sports reporter Keith Costigan fancied a marriage between Wenger and another club that share his sense of tradition in promoting youth:

Would love to see Wenger go to Dortmund. Think he would do well with that young squad next year

— keith costigan (@KeithCostigan) April 20, 2018

Stoger came to the club's helm in December as a replacement for Bosz, with the former Ajax coach's six-month reign at the Westfalenstadion ending after a nine-game winless streak.

Wenger joined Arsenal in 1996 after an 18-month spell at Japanese club Nagoya Grampus Eight, and it's suggested he could receive offers to return to the J-League or make a move to the Chinese Super League.

At 68 years of age, it's doubtful whether he would be seeking another long-term project.

Wenger is the most successful manager in Arsenal's history and has won 10 major trophies at the club—three Premier League crowns and seven FA Cups—but some fans are nevertheless glad to see him leave, via Goal's Chris Wheatley:

Where were you when you heard that Arsene Wenger would be stepping down as Arsenal manager? Fan voxpops before today's game #AFCvWHU pic.twitter.com/z3aySqJlIl

— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley) April 22, 2018

Dortmund have struggled to recover from Jurgen Klopp's 2015 departure and are chasing a manager who might bring some consistency back to the club. His immediate successor, Thomas Tuchel, won the DFB-Pokal in 2017, but Bosz and Stoger have failed to haul in any silverware since.

Commentator Kevin Hatchard illustrated the gulf in quality separating Dortmund from their German rivals at the Allianz Arena:

You can only have praise for #FCBayern, but that #bvb team looked bereft of any structure. These are the fundamentals that Stoger has built his career on, but either he’s lost his way or the players aren’t listening. Or both. #FCBBVB

— Kevin Hatchard 🎙⚽️ (@kevinhatchard) March 31, 2018

Wenger will leave Arsenal as a club legend, but there has been no indication yet as to what lies in store for him next, whether it's to remain in the Premier League or take his talents to foreign shores.

A move to Dortmund could make for a smooth transition from Arsenal based on some shared values, although the thought of a less pressurised environment may appeal to Wenger after 22 years in north London.

Michy Batshuayi has confirmed he is likely out for the rest of the season after suffering an ankle injury in Borussia Dortmund's 2-0 loss to Schalke on Sunday.

The Chelsea loanee tweeted about his fitness status, and Belgian football writer Kristof Terreur reported the Belgium international could return to fitness in time for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia:

Well its not good news for now, my season is probably over, and i wont be able to pay @BVB back for their confidence ... 😔 Thank you all the amazing amount of love I received since yesterday. Wishing my teammates the best for the final days. See you soon ❤️ pic.twitter.com/GORkrFz9kk

— Michy Batshuayi (@mbatshuayi) April 16, 2018

Michy Batshuayi’s season is over. He has suffered ligament damage to his left ankle. World Cup might be still possible. #cfc pic.twitter.com/Z1eYA9u89D

— Kristof Terreur (@kristofterreur) April 16, 2018

Batshuayi, 24, has enjoyed a new lease of life since joining BVB from Chelsea on loan in January. 

He was rarely afforded a start at Stamford Bridge, with 28 of his 32 Premier League appearances since joining the west London club in 2016 coming from the bench. 

But his return at Dortmund has been excellent, as he has netted seven goals in 10 Bundesliga appearances, working out at a goal every 120 minutes.

As noted by European football writer James Horncastle on BT Sport, Batshuayi has made a huge impact at Dortmund as a replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang:

Borussia Dortmund have confirmed that Michy Batshuayi's season is over due to an ankle injury sustained in Sunday's loss to Schalke.

The Belgian scored nine goals in 14 games for BVB on loan from Chelsea 👏

Get well soon @mbatshuayi!pic.twitter.com/6hUhk04UU5

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2018

As such, it is a blow for both player and club that he will be out of action for the rest of the campaign.

With four games to play in the 2017-18 Bundesliga season, Dortmund are occupying the fourth and final UEFA Champions League qualification spot, four points ahead of fifth-placed RB Leipzig. 

  

Borussia Dortmund are traditionally one of the most fun teams to play as on FIFA, and the latest edition of the game is no different.

But how do you get the best out of the likes of Marco Reus, Christian Pulisic and Michy Batshuayi?

Our video will tell you.

Sprint legend Usain Bolt has said he is serious about a career in football and that he is set to return to Borussia Dortmund.

The 31-year-old recently trained with the Bundesliga club and is known as a Manchester United supporter. His potential venture from athletics into football hasn't been taken too seriously by many, although the Jamaican has made it clear scoring goals, not winning races, will be his focus moving forward, per the Herald Sun.

"No [no chance of an athletics comeback]," he said. "I have accomplished what I can in track and field. That's why I'm moving on to a new goal. I want to play soccer, I'm trying to move on to that. It's a big deal for me. Everyone thinks I'm kidding around, but I'm serious. I'm going back to Dortmund for three more weeks to assess myself and see what level I am at."

Bolt also said he has no preference about what team he plays for. "Soccer is more technical, but I have always dabbled in soccer," he added.

Here's a look at what Bolt, speaking at the Commonwealth Games in Australia, had to say in full:

EXCLUSIVE chat with the man himself @usainbolt via @Optus talking all things Comm Games, his future in soccer and who he wants to play him in a movie.
MORE LIVE HERE https://t.co/SMzL6ptcsj pic.twitter.com/FJAlf7E725

— Herald Sun Sport (@heraldsunsport) April 12, 2018

In March, as the eight-time Olympic champion relayed via Twitter, he trained with the Dortmund squad and impressed:

New Levels #NextJourney pic.twitter.com/aeOilbnSq9

— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) March 23, 2018

Bolt retired from athletics after last year's World Championships, leaving a legacy as the finest sprinter of all time.

In addition to his remarkable Olympic exploits, Bolt is an 11-time world champion and the world-record holder in both the 100- and 200-metre events. 

Despite his accomplishments in athletics, it's clear Bolt's competitive edge is still razor-sharp, and his belief that he can make it as a professional footballer is to be admired.

As noted below, Bolt's compatriot Leon Bailey, who has been tearing it up for Bayer Leverkusen in Germany this season, thinks the former sprinter is capable of making an impression in football:

Leon Bailey backs Usain Bolt to make those champion moves in the beautiful game ⚡ pic.twitter.com/qVToqRzejp

— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 10, 2018

With Bolt seemingly ruling out any prospect of defending his Olympic titles at the Tokyo Games in 2020, we may be seeing a lot more of him on the pitch in weeks and months to come.

Defenders wouldn't enjoy coming up against a player with Bolt's speed. While making it at Dortmund is surely a stretch, given his pace and his profile, there could be a club out there ready to give the Olympic icon a chance.