Liverpool will kick off their 2023-24 Premier League campaign against Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea on Sunday at Stamford Bridge.
After a dismal season last year, finishing in the top four will be the bare minimum for the Reds this season.
Jurgen Klopp has supervised a midfield overhaul this summer, with seasoned combatants like as James Milner, Jordan Henderson, and Fabinho departing Anfield. He has added Alexis MacAllister and Dominik Szoboszlai to his team and remains hopeful of making a couple more additions before the transfer window closes.
Following an intriguing pre-season campaign, Klopp’s Liverpool will be hoping for a winning start to the new season.
Liverpool Team News
Thiago Alcantara is unlikely to play while recovering from hip surgery in May. Stefan Bajcetic is also a doubt after missing the entire preseason as he works his way back to full health.
Liverpool Lineup Prediction vs. Chelsea (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
Alisson Becker is Liverpool’s indisputable first-choice goalkeeper, and he should 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 the right and left back positions, 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 field.
Alexis MacAllister and Dominik Szoboszlai are those, and the pair will be right into Klopp’s starting XI against Chelsea after impressing in pre-season.
Mac Allister will play in a deeper role in midfield, attempting to dominate the tempo of play with his exceptional passing and game reading. Szoboszlai will add flair to Liverpool’s midfield.
The inclusion of the Hugarian to Liverpool’s roster will help Klopp’s 3 box 3 shape. Although he has defensive flaws, his ability to find a pass and carry the ball makes him a solid match.
Joe Gomez and Harvey Elliot will have to make do with bench positions.
Attack
Cody Gakpo had a strong pre-season, putting him in line to start Liverpool’s season opener against Chelsea. The Dutchman will play centrally as a No.9, flanked by Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz. Salah, Gakpo, and Diaz may cause havoc at Stamford Bridge if they gel.
Klopp will have two lethal offensive weapons off the bench in Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota.
