Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will take charge of his first full season at the club this year, and expectations are sky high that he can deliver success.
After arriving during the campaign last season, it was a difficult process for the German tactician to deal with as he worked with the squad he inherited while later adding his own pieces to the mix.
However, he’s now had a full summer to bring in individuals that fit his system and style of play better, and he’ll be the last man making excuses if it doesn’t work out as planned come next May.
Although he hasn’t quite splashed out on the level of some of his rivals, he has certainly invested heavily in the team and will boast a number of new faces this year.
Loris Karius won’t feature for a while after the summer signing suffered a broken hand in pre-season, and so Simon Mignolet will be expected to deputise in his absence.
However, the German shot-stopper will be expected to return between the posts, and will likely have a back-four consisting of Alberto Moreno, Mamadou Sakho, Joel Matip and Nathaniel Clyne ahead of him.
That is arguably Klopp’s preferred line-up, although doubts remain over Moreno and a new left-back could still arrive, while injuries and personal woes have blighted his preparations when it comes to his central defensive duo with Ragnar Klavan and Dejan Lovren also staking a solid claim to start.
Eventually though, that quartet should settle in front of Karius, with Emre Can and new summer signing Georginio Wijnaldum sat in front of them in midfield.
The pair will be expected to impose themselves on games with the likes of Jordan Henderson and James Milner ready to step in if it doesn’t work out, while the Dutchman will hope to add goals too.
Further up the field, Klopp could go with three attacking players behind a lone striker, with Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane likely to get the nod behind Daniel Sturridge.
Again, this area is also open for debate as there will be Adam Lallana and Divock Origi among others looking to ensure that they remain in the line-up.
Doubts remain over the respective futures of Christian Benteke and Mario Balotelli, and so Danny Ings will provide competition for places too as Klopp certainly boasts strength in depth with his transfer market dealings potentially yet to conclude.
With various options in different positions, there are certainly legitimate changes that could be made to this line-up with opinions likely to be split on who should indeed start for Liverpool this season…
