Liverpool vs. Chelsea: Predicting the Reds’ starting XI for the UEFA Super Cup

Liverpool play Chelsea tonight in Istanbul for the UEFA Super Cup. The Reds are competing in their sixth UEFA Super Cup having won the fixture on three previous occasions.

Jurgen Klopp’s team head into the fixture after winning last Friday night to open the new Premier League season, 4-1, against Norwich City. Chelsea, on the other hand, were destroyed by Manchester United’s counter-attack at Old Trafford, 4-0. Frank Lampard’s Blues will attempt to prevent Liverpool from producing a similar result with their fast-break counter-attack.

Liverpool Reds FC Blog’s view

It is doubtful Klopp makes too many changes to the team that defeated Norwich City. Liverpool looked brilliant for the first 60 minutes, but Alisson Becker’s injury did take some wind out of the team’s sail.

Still, Klopp has no reason to make any unforced changes, but I expect him to make at least one. Sadio Mane should return to the starting XI pushing Divock Origi to the bench. Mane came on as a second-half substitute against Norwich City and looked fit.

Klopp could set out to put Chelsea away early with repeated counter-attacks. If Manchester United’s counter-attack walked through Chelsea in the second half on Sunday, imagine what Liverpool’s can do.

Liverpool injuries

Naby Keita’s name has been added to the list of Liverpool’s injured. He limped out of the Reds training session on Tuesday and will most likely not appear on Wednesday night.

Dejan Lovren did not travel with the team to Istanbul. It was later revealed Liverpool are negotiating his sale to Roma.

Of course, the biggest injury issue for the Reds is that of goalkeeper Alisson. The Brazilian will sit out due to a torn calf muscle suffered against Norwich City. Summer signing Adrian will start for the Reds.

So, with Liverpool’s injuries sorted, who makes Klopp’s starting XI against Chelsea in tonight’s UEFA Super Cup?

UEFA Super Cup Liverpool Predicted XI

Origi will most likely be used as a substitute in the same way that Mane was against Norwich City. It is a long season and this is already Liverpool’s third (if you count the Community Shield, and I do) competitive matches.

The Reds will turn their attentions back to the Premier League on Saturday away to Southampton. Depending on Wednesday night’s result, it could alter Klopp’s starting XI.

Stay up to date with Liverpool Reds FC Blog on both Twitter and Facebook for tonight’s UEFA Super Cup.

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