Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to return while Jordan Henderson will be contention to feature when Liverpool welcome Leeds United to Anfield on Saturday.
Liverpool will be raring to begin the defence of their Premier League title on a winning note when they play hosts to Leeds United at Anfield on Saturday evening. And, Jurgen Klopp has a near-full strength squad at his disposal ahead of his side’s opening league fixture.
The Reds enter a Premier League season as defending champions for the very first time and Klopp will have the chance to name a strong side against Leeds. The only player who misses out for Liverpool is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is recovering from a knee injury.
The boss is BACK! ?
Join Jürgen’s first @PremierLeague press conference of the season, as we look ahead to our clash with @LUFC ? #LIVLEE
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Captain Jordan Henderson is also making his way back from a knee complaint, but has trained and is in contention to take on Leeds. Kostas Tsimikas (COVID-19 recovery) and Xherdan Shaqiri have also rejoined training and in his pre-match press conference, Klopp confirmed that the trio are likely to be available.
“Not finally decided yet,” said the Liverpool boss when asked if any of the three could feature before continuing, “They are all in training pretty much, all of them. So we will make late decisions about that, but it looks rather promising than not.”
“But we have in the moment a lot of players available, here in training. They all came back now, so not all of them will be involved even if they could be involved, that’s the situation.”
Henderson, though, is unlikely to start, with Klopp expected to give him ample time to get his rhythm back. As a result, Naby Keita should line up in the three-man midfield, along with Georginio Wijnaldum and Fabinho. Ex-Leeds United midfielder James Milner will hope to take the field versus his former side and will be an option from the bench.
Trent Alexander-Arnold missed out in the FA Community Shield tie against Arsenal last month, but is fit and ready to go. Alexander-Arnold will, therefore, start as Liverpool’s right-back, with Andrew Robertson completing their tandem for the Premier League champions from the left flank.
Joe Gomez ought to pair up with Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the Liverpool defence, with Joel Matip missing out. The backline will provide cover to Alisson Becker. Finally, in attack, there is no looking past the first-choice trio of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.
Liverpool Predicted XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson; Keita, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane
