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Liverpool logo
UEFA Super Cup | UEFA Super Cup
Aug 14, 2019 at 8pm UK
Vodafone Park, Istanbul
Chelsea logo

2 - 2

Mane (48', 95')
Henderson (85'), Alexander-Arnold (107')
FT
(aet)
Giroud (36'), Jorginho (101' pen.)
Azpilicueta (79')
Liverpool win 5-4 on penalties

Combined XI: Liverpool vs. Chelsea

Ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Super Cup final between Liverpool and Chelsea, Sports Mole selects its strongest combined XI from the two squads.

Liverpool and Chelsea meet in the UEFA Super Cup final on Wednesday night as both clubs look to claim some silverware during the early weeks of the campaign.

The Merseyside giants, who opened the Premier League season with a 4-1 victory over Norwich City on Friday, earned their place in this fixture by overcoming Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League final.

Chelsea, meanwhile, thrashed Arsenal in the closing fixture of the Europa League to book their place in Istanbul, although Frank Lampard's side suffered a heavy defeat to Manchester United on Sunday.

Liverpool have won this trophy on three occasions, most recently in 2005 after their famous triumph against AC Milan, while Chelsea were last victorious back in 1998.

However, the Blues did finish as runners-up in 2012 and 2013, with a 4-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid being followed by Bayern Munich prevailing in a penalty shootout 12 months later.

Here, Sports Mole has selected the best possible XI from the players who are available for the showdown in Turkey.


Combined XI: LIV v CHE

As a result of Alisson Becker's calf injury, Kepa Arrizabalaga is effectively provided with the number-one position by default with Adrian yet to prove himself at Anfield.

Given Chelsea's demise against Man United three days ahead of this game, the make-up of the backline is equally one-sided with Liverpool's strongest defence filling all four positions.

Chelsea's Emerson Palmieri had the best shout for a starting position, although there are few left-backs in the world who would currently get the nod over Andrew Robertson.

Both teams are well-stocked with options going forward, and it has left us in a position where we feel obliged to pick a two-man midfield consisting of Fabinho and N'Golo Kante, players who would be able to complement each other with their contrasting attributes.

Selecting Liverpool's established front three in the final third is a foregone conclusion, but we would not necessarily use them in the same roles as Jurgen Klopp.

While Sadio Mane remains on the left, Roberto Firmino would drop back into the number-10 role in order to provide Mohamed Salah with the freedom to play down the middle.

Such a change is required to accommodate Chelsea's Christian Pulisic, who suggested during pre-season that he has the potential to eventually fill the boots of Eden Hazard.

The USA international is capable of playing in any of the creative positions in attack but as it stands, it makes sense to use the 20-year-old out wide.

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Sadio Mane gets the fourth during the Champions League game between Liverpool and Red Star on October 24, 2018
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