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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Paul Gorst

Liverpool team news for Lyon Dubai Super Cup clash confirmed as Naby Ketia and Joel Matip return

Jurgen Klopp has named a strong starting XI for the Dubai Super Cup clash with Lyon as Naby Keita returns to the substitutes' bench.

Keita hasn't featured in a match-day squad since the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace in August but is back on a bench that also features Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Kostas Tsimikas and exciting youngster Ben Doak.

The mid-season trip to Dubai offers Keita a chance to kick-start a season that has stalled massively since he pulled up with an injury on the eve of the Manchester United defeat in August.

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The No.8 hasn't played a competitive game since the Champions League final in late May and has just a late Community Shield cameo in July to his name this term.

Thiago Alcantara starts in midfield alongside teenage duo Stefan Bajectic and Harvey Elliott with Fabio Carvalho expected to line up on the left of the front three that also contains Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.

At the back, James Milner starts at right-back next to Joel Matip, who makes his first Liverpool appearance of any kind since the 3-2 defeat to Arsenal in October.

Joe Gomez and Andy Robertson complete the back four with Caoimhin Kelleher named in goal in place of Alisson Becker, who, alongside Fabinho, is set for some time off after his exploits for Brazil at the World Cup.

Liverpool team: Kelleher; Milner, Matip, Gomez, Robertson; Bajcetic, Thiago, Elliott; Salah, Firmino, Carvalho. SUBS: Mrozek, Adrian, Davies, Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Tsimikas, Ramsay, Clark, Phillips, Doak, Cain, Quansah, Corness, Stewart, Chambers, Frauendorf.

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