Liverpool predicted XI v Stoke City – Three new signings start, no Raheem Sterling

The opening day of the new Premier League season is little more than six weeks away. And with the fixtures having been released earlier today, now seems likely a prime opportunity to speculate on a potential starting line-up.

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Last season’s 6-1 humiliation at the Britannia Stadium – a loss which Brendan Rodgers and co will desperately trying to avenge – saw us start with a 4-3-3 formation and that might be about the only thing that remains the same.

Sure, who knows how many other players we might sign this summer, or who might be injured as part of a pre-season campaign. This could all change again. Bur for now, here’s our guess at the team that might feature in the Stoke rematch:

GK) Simon Mignolet

Adam Bogdan has come in and that’s likely to be it in terms of our goalkeeping changes this summer. With Mignolet having finished last season strongly, he’s certain to start our next campaign as the undisputed number one, and logic tells you that the Hungarian is going to have to work very hard to change that.

RB) Nathaniel Clyne

We’re not usually one for speculating over new signings in these kind of pieces, which are meant to be as realistic as possible. However, with Javier Manquillo and Andre Wisdom currently the only right-sided defenders on our books, the new man – Clyne, or indeed someone else – is likely to start from the off.

CB) Martin Skrtel

The Slovakian remains the senior head in this defence and will surely remain one of the first names on this teamsheet next season. He was one of our standout performers once again during the previous campaign and he thoroughly deserves to keep his place.

CB) Mamadou Sakho

Sakho will go head-to-head with Dejan Lovren for the second and remaining place in this central defensive pairing, with Kolo Toure only likely to be serving as back-up. The Frenchman had the edge when fit last season and that’s unlikely to change over the course of the summer break.

LB) Alberto Moreno

We’re a bit short on full-backs all round at the moment, so with Jon Flanagan out for at least the start of the season, the Spaniard should comfortably keep his place in the side. He’ll be desperate to push on and fully establish himself in the team next season, proving his worth in the process.

DM) Joe Allen

There’s going to be a lot of competition for this spot in the team. Emre Can will be looking to take it, as he tries to establish himself as a midfielder, while the experienced Lucas Leiva is also likely to be available. If you add in any potential new signing – including Mateo Kovacic of Inter Milan – then it’s a very hard one to call. We’ve gone with the Welshman, who has been impressing on international duty so far this summer.

CM) Jordan Henderson

Wearing the armband and replacing Steven Gerrard – it’s going to be a make or break season for our new captain, who will be hoping to start with a win in order to prove his doubters wrong.

CM) James Milner

He was signed to be a central midfielder and it’s hard to see him not getting a start on the opening weekend. With both Milner and Henderson in the centre of the park, our midfield ‘engine’ should certainly be running well.

RAM) Adam Lallana

Will Raheem Sterling be a Liverpool player next season? It seems almost impossible to predict. As things stand, considering the form (or lack of it) he’s been show showing for England, would he even make our side? We’ve played safe and stuck with Lallana, who will be hoping to have a big season after enduring a slow start to his Liverpool career.

LAM) Philippe Coutinho

The Brazilian will have had a busy summer, having played in the Copa America, so let’s hope that he’s managed to get some rest and still comes back fit and firing. He’s 23 now and should be approaching his peak, so this could be the season where we see something truly special emerge.

ST) Danny Ings

Another striker signing is likely this summer – we hope – but as it stands we wouldn’t like to predict which of the many, many rumours is going to prove true and who will subsequently be starting up front come opening day. With Daniel Sturridge out, as he continues his recovery from hip surgery, it’s going to fall to Danny Ings – on debut – to lead our attack and hopefully get off to a good start.