Sadio Mane is set to make his first start of the season, while Adrian will likely make his full debut when Liverpool face Chelsea in the UEFA Super Cup.
Liverpool will be aiming to lift the UEFA Super Cup for the fourth time when they take on Chelsea at the BJK Vodafone Park in Istanbul on Wednesday. The match is set to make history for being the first UEFA Super Cup to be officiated by a female referee, with Stephanie Frappart set to take charge of the proceedings.
Jurgen Klopp though, has a major headache to contend with following his side’s Premier League season opener against Norwich City. While Liverpool were comfortable victors on the night, they lost the services of first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who is set to be sidelined with a calf injury for the foreseeable future.
In the Brazilian’s stead, Adrian is likely to fill in, having made his Liverpool debut last Friday, with one of Andy Lonergan and Caoimhin Kelleher being his deputy. And, during his pre-match press conference, Klopp praised the Spaniard before iterating that he needs to be careful with his fitness ahead of his full debut for the Reds against Chelsea.
“He [Adrian] looked very good and very sharp from the first session he had with us but of course now we need to be careful [and] pack him in cotton wool pretty much. We cannot now do the hardest training with him every day and stuff like this, we have to make him match fit every day, that’s how it is. So that’s what we try and then he will be fine.”
There could be a few more changes as far as the outfield players are concerned, with games already starting to come thick and fast for Liverpool. For the Chelsea game, the backline should see one change, with Joe Gomez likely to make way for Joel Matip, who will partner Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence.
Out wide, there is no looking past Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson, who are two of Liverpool’s most important players. There is likely to be one alteration in midfield as well, with Georginio Wijnaldum, who wasn’t quite at his best against Norwich, dropping out.
The Dutchman’s place ought to be taken by James Milner, whose set-piece deliveries will hold the key against a vulnerable Chelsea defence. Milner will join Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and Fabinho in the middle of the park.
Up ahead in attack, Sadio Mane is expected to make his first start of the season, having gradually eased his way back after returning late for pre-season training. Mane is expected to replace Divock Origi, despite the Belgian’s recent heroics, with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino completing the fearsome attacking trio for Liverpool.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Adrian; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Milner; Salah, Firmino, Mane
