Liverpool will be without Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic for Sunday's 2023-24 Premier League opener away against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Thiago has spent pre-season recovering from hip surgery and he is not expected to return before the end of this month, while Bajcetic was also absent from pre-season as he continues to recover from an adductor operation at the end of last season.
Jurgen Klopp has overseen a major midfield overhaul this summer and new recruits Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai are in contention to make their debuts for the Reds on Sunday, with the duo set to be joined in the middle of the pitch by either Curtis Jones or Harvey Elliott.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been tested in a hybrid midfield position when in possession, and the Englishman is expected to continue in his new role, joining defensive trio Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk – Liverpool's new captain following Jordan Henderson's departure – and Andrew Robertson in the starting lineup in front of goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Klopp has plenty of attacking options at his disposal but Mohamed Salah is still regarded as one of the first names on the teamsheet; the former Chelsea man scored twice and provided seven assists in five pre-season matches and is expected to continue on the right side of a front three.
Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo, who scored six goals between them in pre-season, are set to battle for the centre-forward spot, while Luis Diaz may get the nod over Diogo Jota to start on the left wing.
Liverpool possible starting lineup: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
> Click here to see how Chelsea could line up for this contest
Oliver Thomas
