Injury to keep Henderson benched and Barcelona target Wijnaldum to star – How Liverpool should line-up against Leeds in Premier League opener
Premier League champions Liverpool begin the defence of their title against newly-promoted Leeds United on Saturday.
It also means you can catch managerial heavyweights Jurgen Klopp and Marcelo Bielsa live and exclusive on talkSPORT at 5.30pm.
It will be a tough first match at Anfield for Klopp’s team given Leeds are a side full of confidence following their promotion to the top flight.
Jurgen Klopp delivered Liverpool’s first league title in 30 years
Klopp is well aware of the challenges a high-pressing Marcelo Bielsa team may pose to Liverpool.
“We have to make sure we get ready for the first game against Leeds because that will be a really tough one,” said Klopp.
“Leeds have a specific style of play, man-marking over the whole pitch, and that makes it proper intense.
“We have to be ready for that, but we have a few days. Hopefully all the other boys now stay healthy in the international games, then they come back and we have three days to work together on that.”
Liverpool were comfortably the best Premier League side last season
There are still international fixtures to be played with England in action on Tuesday with still the potential for key players to pick up injury.
It has also been a relatively quiet transfer window for Liverpool with only one signing made.
Kostas Tsimikas joined from Olympiakos for around £11.75million and is cover for Andy Robertson at left-back.
The Reds have been linked with a move for Bayern Munich’s Thiago Alcantara but he appeared to pour cold water on any transfer speculation at the weekend.
Jamie O’Hara does not think Liverpool will win the 2020/21 Premier League title without new signings
Liverpool won the Premier League with 99 points, 33 ahead of nearest rivals Man City, and there is plenty of strength in depth.
But with Adam Lallana leaving on a free transfer, Dejan Lovren moving to Russia, Xherdan Shaquiri linked with a move away and speculation over Rhian Brewster’s status, they may come to regret not making any meaningful additions.
Gini Wijnaldum has been linked with a move to Barcelona this transfer window too as Ronald Koeman targets the Netherlands international, who is also in the final year of his contract.
Wijnaldum has won the Champions League and Premier League with Liverpool
How Liverpool could look against Leeds
The main injury concerns for Jurgen Klopp is to captain Jordan Henderson.
Klopp’s skipper suffered a knee injury at the end of last season and is close to returning to full fitness.
He missed the pre-season friendly with Blackpool but will be put through his paces ahead of the home opener.
The manager was giving nothing away in his pre-match press conference and Henderson could start on the bench with a long, gruelling season to come.
James Milner and Joel Matip have both recovered from injuries over the summer but are unlikely to start.
Jordan Henderson suffered a knee injury in July and is racing to be fit for the new season
There is unlikely to be much of a change from the side that featured regularly last season on the way to the Premier League title.
If anything, Klopp has fewer options at his disposal. There is not really anyone pushing the front three for a place and the back four are pretty set.
The midfield is where there might be some changes but a trio of Wijnaldum, Fabinho and Naby Keita is the best option available.
How Liverpool should line-up to face Leeds
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