Jurgen Klopp will face test of where loyalties lie a few weeks after taking first job post-Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp will be handed an awkward reunion with Liverpool just weeks after accepting his new role with Red Bull.

The former Reds manager stepped down from his role at Anfield at the end of last season but has agreed to an early return from his year-long sabbatical in order to take up a position with the energy drink giant, where he will become its 'Head of Global Soccer' from January 1, 2025 .

As part of his new role, the 57-year-old will oversee Red Bull's international network of football clubs and advise them on playing philosophy, transfer strategy and coaching development.

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That includes a welcome reunion with former Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders at Austrian outfit RB Salzburg, while Klopp will also find himself working with MLS giants New York Red Bulls and Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

Ironically, however, Liverpool is due to play the latter of those in the Champions League in a matter of weeks. To be precise, the Reds will travel to face Die Roten Bullen at the Red Bull Arena exactly 14 days from now on Wednesday, October 23.

Arne Slot's side currently sit in fifth-place in the 36-team league, having won both of its games, while RB Leipzig is positioned in 29th, having lost both of its games. Despite being at opposite ends of the table, Klopp will rather fittingly be sat in the middle when it comes to choosing sides.

In fact, the fixture scheduling has been kind to Klopp. Due to the Champions League's expansion and reformatting, the league phase now runs until the New Year, seeing Liverpool play both Lille and PSV Eindhoven in January.

Had the scheduling been different, Liverpool could have been playing Leipzig just weeks after Klopp had begun his new role at Red Bull that involves working with the Bundesliga title challengers.

Nonetheless, its unlikely Klopp will be gunning for his new side just yet, especially by the time Liverpool visit, and almost certainly won't be in attendance when the first ball is kicked in the eastern German city in two weeks' time.

But it marks a unique and unexpected occasion for both Klopp and Liverpool, who would not have been expecting a reunion-of-sorts quite so soon after he stepped down from his role at the end of last season.

And to make the occasion even more special, current Liverpool players Ibrahima Konate and Dominik Szoboszlai will also be making their returns to the 47,069-capacity Red Bull Arena, having left to join the Reds in 2021 and 2023, respectively.