Liverpool are without Alisson and Naby Keita for tonight’s Super Cup clash with Chelsea, but our opponents are in a difficult position themselves.
Two of their best players, N’Golo Kante and Antonio Rudiger, are fighting fitness issues and according to WhoScored, will only make the bench in Istanbul.
As a result, the stats website has declared that their side will likely look like this:
Kepa; Azpi, Alonso, Zouma, Christensen; Kovacic, Jorginho; Pedro, Mount, Pulisic; Giroud
There’s plenty of experience in that side, but Liverpool should be able to get at the young central defensive duo of Zouma and Christensen, and will also be delighted not to face Eden Hazard – who was always so brilliant against us.
Pulisic is a top player, so Trent Alexander-Arnold will have to be careful going forward as the American will be foraging down his flank.
Up top Olivier Giroud is excellent aerially and links up play well, but Virgil van Dijk is the best header of a ball on the planet, in our eyes – and a pacy option who can get in behind would worry us more.
We reckon the Reds could start exactly how they did in last season’s Champions League Final, bar Alisson, which seems fairly fitting:
Adrian; Trent, Robbo, van Dijk, Matip; Fabinho, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Mane, Salah, Firmino