Liverpool will kick off their 2023-24 Premier League season against Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea on Sunday at Stamford Bridge.
After a dismal season last year, the Reds will be content with finishing in the top four this season.
This summer, Jurgen Klopp oversaw a midfield revamp, with seasoned campaigners such as James Milner, Jordan Henderson, and Fabinho departing Anfield. He has added Alexis MacAllister and Dominik Szoboszlai to his team and is hopeful of making a couple more additions before the transfer window closes.
Klopp’s Liverpool will be hoping for a winning start to the new season after an intriguing pre-season campaign.
Liverpool Team Information
Thiago Alcantara, who had hip surgery last May, is unlikely to play. Stefan Bajcetic is also a question mark after missing the entire preseason as he works his way back to full health.
Liverpool’s predicted lineup vs. Chelsea (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
Alisson Becker is Liverpool’s clear first-choice goalkeeper, and he is expected to start against Chelsea on Sunday.
Defence
Jurgen Klopp is set to go with the same back four that started the final pre-season game against Darmstadt earlier this week: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, and Andrew Robertson.
Van Dijk and Konate will play together in central defense, with Alexander-Arnold and Robertson providing energy and intensity to Liverpool’s play from right-back and left-back, respectively.
Midfield
With the departures of Fabinho, Henderson, Milner, Keita, and Oxlade-Chamberlain, Liverpool suddenly has a couple of new faces in the middle of the park.
Alexis MacAllister and Dominik Szoboszlai are those, and after impressing in pre-season, the pair will be right into Klopp’s starting XI against Chelsea.
Mac Allister will play deeper in midfield, attempting to dominate the tempo of play with his exceptional passing and game reading. Szoboszlai will inject new life into Liverpool’s midfield.
The addition of the Hugarian to the Liverpool team will help Klopp’s 3 box 3 shape. Despite his defensive shortcomings, his ability to find a pass and carry the ball makes him a solid match.
Joe Gomez and Harvey Elliot will have to settle for bench positions.
Attack
Cody Gakpo had a strong preseason, putting him in line to start Liverpool’s season opener against Chelsea. The Dutchman will play as a No.9 in the center, flanked by Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz. Salah, Gakpo, and Diaz may cause havoc at Stamford Bridge if they work well together.
Klopp will have two potent offensive weapons to call on from the bench in Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota.
