Liverpool take on Chelsea in the Premier League later today. Here, three of our writers select the starting eleven we want Jürgen Klopp to pick in London.
Liverpool and Chelsea have been talked about side-by-side all week, but not for the reason most anticipated a few weeks ago.
There’s nothing unusual about talking about the high-profile match on the first weekend of the new Premier League season, but the talk and the stories that preceded it are almost exclusively about the transfer market sagas of Moisés Caicedo and Roméo Lavia who involve both clubs.
Now the focus can turn to some real on-pitch events, with current Liverpool and Chelsea players battling for points on the opening day of their respective Premier League seasons. Manchester City have already set the tone with a comfortable win over Burnley, with Erling Haaland immediately repeating the scoring chances he had last season. But for Liverpool and Chelsea, the first priority is to regain the Champions League places this season as competition with Pep Guardiola’s men is suspended for the time being.
These are the teams some of our Liverpool.com editors would choose for what could become a classic in what could be the season opener at Stamford Bridge
Matt Addison – Cody Gakpo is unlucky not to be there
From what I can see, most of this team is self-selected. We know pretty well what the back five will look like (including Alisson Becker) and there aren’t many decisions to be made in midfield. Alexis Mac Allister is my main player, alongside Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai. The choices lie in the attack. Mohamed Salah is a certainty and I’m going with Diogo Jota (to clinically concede a few goals) and Luis Díaz (to provide flair and creativity) alongside the Egyptian. Too bad Cody is missing Gakpo, but deploying him in midfield would be a bit risky. He and Darwin Núñez can come off the substitute bench in the second half.
My starting eleven: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, MacAllister, Jones; Salah, Jota, Diaz
Expected score: 2-2 draw, although both teams could take it. A point is not a bad result.
One thing to watch out for: Mohamed Salah scores on the opening day of the season for the seventh consecutive season.
James Findlater – Easy decision in midfield
Oh yeah, there’s a match this weekend…
In all the drama surrounding Moisés Caicedo, you’d almost forget that Liverpool have a real void at the base of midfield, so it’s easy enough to decide who the number six should play – Alexis Mac Allister is certainly the better candidate.
Also making his center park debut is Dominik Szoboszlai, who plays center with Cody Gakpo. He might seem a little harsh on Curtis Jones, but Gakpo is just too good to leave out. The Dutchman plays in midfield and I have Luis Díaz, Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah as three fronts. This should not only produce goals but also a lot of intensity in the press.
My starting eleven: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, MacAllister, Gakpo; Salah, Jota, Diaz
Expected score: draw 1-1.
One thing to look out for: Luis Díaz looked really good in pre-season and I’m backing him to play in goal for Liverpool.
Ben Bocsak – Play it safe
This promises to be a small deal, but Liverpool can be cautiously optimistic ahead of the game. For me, Klopp doesn’t have too many headaches in terms of starting eleven.
This, of course, means Alisson in goal. In defense I start with Alexander-Arnold and Robertson in the full-back roles, and a central combination of Konaté and Van Dijk.
The midfield is a little more difficult, but Klopp doesn’t have many options. For me Mac Allister will play number six, with Szoboszlai on the right and Jones on the left. Gakpo has been used in midfield and Elliott is another option but for me that is for now, until Thiago returns and there are more signings, Liverpool’s strongest possible midfield three.
In attack, Klopp’s decision is a little more difficult, but I would play it safe. As exciting as Díaz and Núñez are, for me Gakpo and Jota are more defensively oriented players and will play a key role in putting pressure on Chelsea from attack. That’s why they start for me next to Salah.
My starting eleven: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, MacAllister, Jones; Salah, Gakpo, Jota
Expected score: 3-2 for Liverpool. I expect goals. One thing to watch out for: Diogo Jota gets braces.
