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Liverpool team news: Expected XI for Norwich clash - Klopp could welcome back defenders
Liverpool begin their Premier League season at newly-promoted Norwich City on Saturday (5.30pm) and Express Sport predicts the starting XI Jurgen Klopp will select
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Liverpool will be hoping to get their 2021/22 Premier League campaign off to a flying start when they travel to Norwich City on Saturday for an early evening kick off. After a summer of international football, Liverpool’s superstars will be hoping to hit the ground running against last season’s Championship winners.
Boss Jurgen Klopp will have a number of selection headaches to contend with and Express Sport looks at how the Reds are expected to line up at Carrow Road.
Goalkeeper – Alisson
Alisson has been a safe pair of hands for Liverpool in recent seasons and is the side’s number one by a country mile.
Barring injury or suspension, the Brazil international is a shoo-in for every game this season as Liverpool look to launch an assault on the Premier League title.
The 28-year-old did have a spell on the sidelines during the last campaign, but kept ten top flight clean sheets and even notched a goal.
Defence – Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Gomez, Tsimikas
Klopp has been given a huge boost in recent weeks with the return to fitness of centre-back rocks Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez.
The duo only played a combined total of 12 Premier League games last time out after suffering season-ending injuries in the autumn.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold will offer attacking threat down the right channel, but Klopp will have to make do without Andy Robertson.
The influential left-back suffered ligament damage to his ankle in last Sunday’s pre-season friendly draw with Athletic Bilbao and is likely to miss the first few games of the season.
Greece international Kostas Tsimikas will fill in for Robertson after impressing in pre-season.
Midfield – Milner, Fabinho, Keita
Fabinho will be tasked with the responsibility of providing protection for the back-four, picking up from where he left off last season.
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Jordan Henderson’s injury problems have meant he has barely appeared during the club’s pre-season friendlies, with James Milner most likely to fill in for the Liverpool captain.
Naby Keita could start in the midfield three, with Harvey Elliott vying to prise the shirt away from the Guinea international.
Forwards – Salah, Jota, Mane
Klopp has a key decision to make in his forward line, with Roberto Firmino having a short pre-season at Anfield after reaching the Copa America final with Brazil this summer.
Diogo Jota has impressed in Firmino’s absence and may be given the nod to lead Liverpool’s line at Carrow Road.
Jota scored nine goals in 19 Premier League appearances last season – as many as Firmino managed in 36 games.
Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane will be looking to fire on all cylinders from the off, and it could be a long evening for Norwich.