Reigning Premier League champions Liverpool will take on newcomers Leeds United at Anfield in the opening weekend of the 2020/2021 season.
Liverpool head into this season as the winners of the Premier League title for the first time in the club’s modern history, while Leeds achieved promotion to the top-flight under Marcelo Bielsa after nearly 16 years of playing outside the Premier League.
Club captain Jordan Henderson is expected to miss out on their opening fixture and will struggle to reach full fitness in time for the game. Henderson picked up a knee injury towards the end of last season, missing out on the Community Shield as well as Liverpool’s pre-season friendlies earlier this month.
In the absence of Henderson, Klopp will prefer to deploy the midfield trio of Georginio Wijnaldum, Fabinho and Naby Keita, with Fabinho as the lone pivot. Reports from Spain claim that Barcelona are preparing an official bid for the Dutch international Wijnaldum, but the 29-year-old is still expected to start against Leeds at the weekend.
In the forward’s department, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Xherdan Shaqiri have been sidelined with injuries and a return date has not been set for the duo. We can expect the formidable front three of Salah, Firmino, and Mane to carry on where they left off from last season, looking to start off the new season with a win.
The rock-solid backline consisting of Andy Robertson, Virgil Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to be unchanged. In net, Brazilian international Alisson Becker will resume normal duties as the first choice keeper at the club.
Liverpool’s latest signing from Olympiacos, Greek international Tsimikas tested positive for coronavirus while on international duty last week, and the defender will have to wait longer to make his official debut for the Reds in the Premier League.
Takumi Minamino impressed in the build up to the Leeds game, and is expected to play an integral part in not only the game but also season as a whole for Liverpool.
Liverpool’s Predicted Line-up (4-3-3): Alisson Becker; Andrew Robertson, Van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Alexander-Arnold; Naby Keita, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane.
