The Fiver | Standing around frowning and patting the top of their heads a lot

Today: the 893rd and final qualifying round for Big Cup, the challenge of Ligue 1 and the 12th team Robbie Keane always dreamed of playing for as a boy

The benefits of winning away at Burnley, or at home against Crystal Palace, or not letting in three goals against Swansea City were writ large today, as Liverpool were handed a tricky draw in the 893rd and final qualifying round for Big Cup. Jürgen Klopp’s side, who would have gained automatic qualification to the group stage had they won at Hull last season, or managed to hold on to a 3-1 lead with 14 minutes to play against a club which nearly got relegated from the Football League only seven years earlier, will face Hoffenheim. Actually, putting in a shift at struggling Leicester, or scoring a couple against Southampton here and there could have avoided all this nonsense as well.

Related: Premier League 2017-18 preview No10: Liverpool | Andy Hunter

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