Adam Brown @AdamMNVi
Competitive football is back. Liverpool’s first test of the 22/23 campaign is to secure an early victory over Manchester City, and while this clash will be the least important of the potential series of tactical battles between Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola this season, momentum will be vital in a Premier League race that will temporarily suspend when the World Cup starts later this year.
One of the biggest duels this season will take place between Darwin Nunez and Erling Haaland – two of the best forwards in world football, and now leading the lines of arguably, the two current best sides in Europe. Having smashed four past Leipzig in spite of compilations detailing the most minor errors from 60 minutes of game play, Nunez looks ready to start straight away.
Here’s how we should line up:
Adam’s team (4-3-3): Adrian, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Virgil, Robertson, Fabinho, Thiago, Henderson, Diaz, Darwin, Salah.
Adrian starts in goal as Jurgen Klopp begins the competitive start of the season with both Alisson and Caoimhin Kelleher out, though the Brazilian will return for Liverpool’s Premier League opener against Fulham.
Klopp’s toughest decision among his defensive options remains the question of who starts alongside Virgil van Dijk. The acquisition of Calvin Ramsay this summer means that Joe Gomez is most likely to return to competition in the heart of the defence, though Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate had the better of the minutes last season. I’ve gone for Matip to start, with Manchester City having less pace on the wings – and he also provides a stronger ability to bring the ball out from the back against the press.
Fabinho and Thiago will continue to form a crucial part of Liverpool’s spine this season, though the return of Harvey Elliott and signing of Fabio Carvalho will see an interesting battle for places emerge.
There will be less reliance on Liverpool’s two key stars, but for the biggest games, that is the midfield that Liverpool fans will want to see. I’ve gone for Jordan Henderson to kick things off alongside them, but it would be unsurprising to see Carvalho begin to make a strong case as the season goes on against Naby Keita and Curtis Jones.
A stroke of genius in the transfer market saw Luis Diaz settle instantly on Merseyside, and the Colombian will be the man who Klopp relies on to carry the elements scattered from the departure of Sadio Mane. Roberto Firmino has made a strong case in pre-season to start this one, with his link-up play helpful against City’s press, but I think minutes for Darwin Nunez would help become accustomed to the tempo of the matches between the Premier League’s top sides.
Had he not been excellent against Leipzig, the case would have been stronger to start him from the bench, but it’s clear that the Reds have made no mistake with the acquisition of the Uruguay international. Mohamed Salah – Liverpool’s sharpest player during pre-season – starts from the right-flank, with the Egyptian king ready to continue his legacy on Merseyside after signing a new three-year deal.
Both teams amid squad transition will likely see some errors forced at some point, but I think the Reds will have the better of the chances across the 90 minutes – with Salah in particular kicking off his season in style.
Score prediction: Liverpool 2 – 1 Manchester City
How does Chris think we will line up? Check out the starting XI prediction show below!
