Liverpool coming to terms with major European change that could pay off in long-term

If Europa League qualification was the unwanted prize of last season's malaise, Liverpool's discontent has soothed considerably in the months since.

With Jurgen Klopp keen to stress about how this is "year one" for his new-look and exciting young squad, the mood and attitude towards the upcoming European campaign will be a world away from what has preceded it in recent years when it comes to the continent's secondary tournament.

For Klopp and his staff, it is an opportunity to give some vital early experience to youngsters with huge potential like Ben Doak and Bobby Clark, while some of the more experienced members of the team will spy a chance for some real game-time across the group stages and beyond.

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For players like Joe Gomez, Kostas Tsimikas, Wataru Endo and Caoimhin Kelleher in goal, the Europa League is the best route into the Liverpool team between now and Christmas, while it will be interesting to see who from the front five options the Reds boss selects at the top end of the pitch.

Liverpool's strength in depth is such that Klopp will likely not have to trouble too many of his big guns if he doesn't want to, while their status as one of the competition's favourites will be justified if they approach it as seriously as they would a Champions League term.

For a relatively fresh squad ready to emerge from the shadow of the 2018-2022 vintage, that the first tentative steps will be taken in the Europa League is not the imposition it might once have appeared.

Klopp stressed, with much sincerity, that he did not know the