Liverpool line-ups for Chelsea as Luis Diaz and Joe Gomez decisions made
Ian Doyle
So it begins. And what a very long season this promises to be for Liverpool, given the events of recent weeks.
Chelsea are the opponents and, well, we don't need reminding of what those two clubs have been up to in recemt days.
What, then, should Jurgen Klopp be doing, given there's a distinct lack of defensive midfield cover in the team?
I think it's time for a formation change. And that means 4-2-3-1 with Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister the double pivot or two number sixes or two DMs or whatever we're calling it today. Basically, they are going to be two deep-lying central midfielders.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, then, will be at right-back, with Andy Robertson on the left and Ibrahima Konate partnering Virgil van Dijk at centre-back. Alisson Becker is in goal.
The other midfielder can be Dominik Szoboszlai in a more advanced central role, while up top Mohamed Salah is on the right, with Cody Gakpo down the middle and, this time, Diogo Jota on the left.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Jones; Salah, Szoboszlai, Jota; Gakpo
Theo Squires
Liverpool’s Premier League opener away at Chelsea is practically an afterthought, given all the transfer drama the pair have become embroiled in this week regarding pursuits of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.
Regardless of the resolution of either saga, both clubs head into Sunday’s clash at Stamford Bridge short of midfielders and looking to start the season on a high despite the resulting damaged wing.
I’ll start by saying I fully don’t expect this to be the XI Jurgen Klopp chooses to face Chelsea, but given the Reds’ leakiness defensively throughout pre-season, I think something different is needed if the in-possession
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