Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs Chelsea: Striker conundrum
By Evan Curnew
Liverpool will play their first match of the Premier League season on the road at Stamford Bridge as they take on Chelsea on August 13th. It’s been a rollercoaster last few days for Liverpool fans as it looked nearly certain they would sign Romeo Lavia and then Moises Caicedo, and now they may miss out on both targets to Chelsea. Given the off-the-field battle between the two clubs, this match could be a special one early on. The match begins at 16:30 local time on Sunday.
Liverpool’s starting keeper will be the ever-reliable Alisson, who is looking to have yet another strong season under Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool’s defence will look a lot different in shape than most are used to seeing. Since Trent Alexander-Arnold has moved into the midfield, Klopp has shifted to using a back three in possession. Liverpool’s opening backline should contain Andy Robertson, Ibrahima Konate and Virgil Van Dijk, the latter better the newest captain at the club.
Liverpool’s midfield has seen a massive overhaul this summer with the departures of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner. Additions Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister will get the start, with Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones playing just behind the two new signings on the field. Clearly, the club still needs to add a defensive midfielder, as none of the listed players are preferred to play in such a position.
The attack is a bit trickier to pick, as recent reports suggest that Darwin Nunez will not start against Chelsea. Mo Salah is the first name pencilled in on the team sheet, and Diogo Jota will likely start out on the left wing ahead of Luis Diaz. That leaves Cody Gakpo, who has regularly featured as a centre-forward under Klopp, to start between the two wingers.
Liverpool Predicted Lineup: Alisson, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Alexander-Arnold, Jones, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah, Gakpo, Jota