Alexis Mac Allister will make his competitive Liverpool debut in defensive midfield at Chelsea this afternoon.
The number six role has proven a major issue for the Reds during pre-season following the departures of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and James Milner and with teenager Stefan Bajcetic not fully fit.
Attempting to recruit a new defensive midfielder, Liverpool are embroiled in a transfer saga with Chelsea over both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, with neither move having been resolved.
Mac Allister, a £35million arrival in the summer, will be joined in midfield by another debutant in £60m man Dominik Szoboszlai, with Cody Gakpo completing the engine room.
Trent Alexander-Arnold will start at right-back with Liverpool expected to continue with the 3-2-2-3 formation they ended last season using and continued to utilise throughout pre-season.
Andy Robertson is left-back, with Virgil van Dijk – captaining the Reds for the first time in a competitive match since being named club captain – partnering Ibrahima Konate at centre-back. Alisson Becker is in goal.
Up front, Diogo Jota spearheads the attack with Mohamed Salah on the right and Luis Diaz on the left. Teenagers Ben Doak and James McConnell, who impressed during the warm-up programme, are both among the substitutes.
Liverpool owner John Henry has flown in to watch the action.
