It’s finally here – the start of the new Premier League season. After two-and-a-half months of waiting, the Reds are back at the Britannia Stadium, ready to right the wrongs after our last appearance in the Potteries.
There will have been plenty for Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers to mull over during the build-up to the game, both in terms of which formation and which personnel he wishes to go with.
Perhaps the biggest decision for him, will be who to include in midfield, with the likes of Roberto Firmino and Emre Can – who were late to join up with the rest of the squad for pre-season due to various international commitments – both attempting to make a late charge towards the starting eleven.
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Here’s how we expect Liverpool to start this afternoon…
GK) Simon Mignolet
The Belgian conceded just one goal during our pre-season campaign. With little to suggest that his place could be at risk from new signing Adam Bogdan, our number one should be the first name on the teamsheet. He has good memories of opening day encounters against Stoke, having saved a late Jonathan Walters penalty in 2013.
RB) Nathaniel Clyne
The first of four new signings to be included in this team and, arguably, the most obvious of those choices. With little competition for the former Southampton man at right-back, it will be important that he gets his season off to the best possible start, both attacking and defending down the flank.
LB) Joe Gomez
We’ve gone with the teenager to get the left-back spot ahead of Alberto Moreno. Judging by our pre-season campaign, the former Charlton starlet is the obvious choice, while Rodgers having also reiterated that he would not be adverse to the possibility of picking such a young player (via the Echo).
CB) Martin Skrtel
The Slovakian is the obvious choice for one of our two centre-back positions, with most of the question marks surrounding who will start alongside him. Having scored just once last season, the defender would love to get amongst the goals once again, as he did during the 2013-14 campaign.
CB) Dejan Lovren
We’ve gone – hesitantly – with Lovren to start against Stoke. Mamadou Sakho’s wife gave back to their second child earlier this week and the likelihood is that the Frenchman won’t be fully prepared for this game. This could hand a surprise reprieve to Lovren, who has not looked great during pre-season.
CM) Jordan Henderson
The skipper is guaranteed to start in midfield. However, he might be playing slightly deeper than he might have expected, without an out-and-out holding player to keep him company. Joe Allen has already been ruled out through injury, while we expect Can and Lucas to be among the substitutes.
CM) James Milner
Our newly named vice-captain will fill the other central midfield position. Milner is coming off the back of a fine pre-season campaign, in which he scored twice and had a hand in a couple more, and will be hoping to continue that form in his first league game in a Liverpool shirt.
AM) Philippe Coutinho
He might have missed much of the pre-season campaign after playing for Brazil in the Copa America, but you’re going to struggle to keep him out of this one. He’s looked ready to go in the couple of games he has featured in thus far, so we’re expecting him to line-up in his usual number ten position.
RW) Jordon Ibe
We’ve already been near enough promised that the teenager is going to start in this one (via the Echo). After being the stand-out player during our pre-season campaign, which included a wonderful solo goal against the Malaysia XI, he thoroughly deserves his chance on the right-hand side.
LW) Adam Lallana
With Firmino unlikely to be fit to feature from the start, it should be Lallana that completes the five-man midfield. The England international also had a fine pre-season, scoring a couple of goals and looking much fitter than he did this time last year, when an injury caused him to miss the start of our new campaign.
ST) Christian Benteke
The big Belgian should get the nod after his brilliant debut goal during the friendly against Swindon. He’s unlikely to play the full ninety minutes, considering his outing against the Robins was his first of pre-season, but he should have the likes of Danny Ings and Divock Origi waiting in the wings.
