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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Sean Bradbury & Joe Rimmer & Paul Gorst & Keifer MacDonald

How Liverpool could line-up vs Chelsea on opening day after Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai transfers

'New-look midfield must be unleased'

Paul Gorst: While a trip to Chelsea for the first game of the new season might not immediately look to be a favourable draw, Liverpool have been given a lucky break this Premier League season.

The Londoners won't be anywhere near as in-tune as they will be within a few months of the Mauricio Pochettino era, so there is a theory of catching them early, if you like, while they are still ironing out the kinks from last season's bizarre underperformance.

So a new-look Liverpool midfield simply has to be unleashed on Chelsea on August 13 featuring both Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai. The biggest for me is what to do at centre-back? The idea of Andy Robertson as an auxiliary centre-half is not ideal but with no new left-sided defender at the club yet, does Klopp revert to a more orthodox flat-back four?

Either way, the idea of Mac Allister and Szoboszlai pulling the strings in the two No.8 roles does appeal.

My team: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz.

READ MORE: What Erling Haaland told Dominik Szoboszlai after he completed Liverpool move

READ MORE: Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard makes dramatic managerial move after u-turn

'Two new signings unleashed'

Joe Rimmer: It feels like full steam ahead with Liverpool's 3-2-2-3 formation after the signings of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.

But does that mean both of them will go into the opening day's starting line-up at Chelsea?

Much will depend on pre-season, of course, but Liverpool haven't signed either player to sit on the bench and while it's tempting to perhaps ease other of them in, both will be able to take part in a full pre-season's training so it's realistic to include them from the start.

Any other new midfield signing will, in my opinion, remain benched with Fabinho preferred in the first few months of the season, injuries and form permitted, of course.

The defence and goalkeeper continue to pick themselves but Klopp has a slight dilemma up front. Will it be a fresh start for Darwin Nunez or does the Uruguayan need to force his way back in? I'd lean towards the latter.

My team: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Salah, Diaz, Gakpo.

'Szoboszlai and Jones get the nod'

Sean Bradbury: Liverpool's summer business so far all points to Jurgen Klopp building on his 3-2-2-3 experiment.

That throws up some interesting long-range questions for a possible opening day selection at Chelsea.

At the back, it surely picks itself should everyone be fit. Alisson in goal, with Andy Roberson, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate ahead of him.

The double pivot will likely be Fabinho and Trent Alexander-Arnold, unless any further signings enter the reckoning.

Then things get interesting. In the attacking midfield roles, I would anticipate only one of the new recruits to start.

Alexis Mac Allister is the obvious contender given his experience of the league, but I will throw a curveball in and go Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai. It is a tricky away tie but let's see what the Hungarian has got in his locker - perhaps a strike from distance to get himself off to a flyer?

Up front, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah take the wide spots with Cody Gakpo in the middle.

My team: Alisson; Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho; Szoboszlai, Jones; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz.

'Mac Allister handed debut'

Keifer MacDonald: If Jurgen Klopp and his side are to take anything away from last season's failings, it is that the Premier League offers little time for transition as the race for Champions League qualification looks to be contested by as many as seven sides.

The early additions of both Mac Allister and Szoboszlai means the Reds boss will be afforded nearly five weeks of training time with his new mega-money signings before his side face Chelsea on August 13.

Hypothetically, it means that Liverpool will be spoiled for options when it comes to the centre of the park with Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara adding to the competition as they make their returns from season-ending injuries last time out.

In defence, after an 11-game unbeaten run from April onwards, the goalkeeper and backline will be sure to pick themselves. However, I wouldn't be surprised to see a midfield of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Alexis Mac Allister, all familiar with the demands of the Premier League, given the nod on the opening day.

In attack, Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo continue to be the Reds' two first choices in that department, while Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez battle it for the final starting berth. For this time, I'm backing the Colombian to make up for lost time last campaign with an energetic showing in West London.

My team: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Mac Allister; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz.

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