Liverpool will lock horns with Arsenal at the Wembley Stadium on Saturday afternoon hoping to win the FA Community Shield final before they host Leeds United at Anfield in the Premier League next month. The Reds are unbeaten in pre-season as they have managed to secure a 3-0 over Stuttgart last weekend and held on to a 2-2 draw by Red Bull Salzburg on Tuesday.
Jurgen Klopp is expected to set-up his team in a 4-3-3 formation and might name Neco Williams in his starting XI with James Milner making up the numbers on the bench. The Merseyside outfit will look to press the opposition high up the pitch so that they can win the ball back and hurt the Gunners defenders on the counter.
4-3-3 Liverpool Predicted Lineup To Face Arsenal
Defence
Alisson Becker will continue in goal for the Reds despite shipping in two cheap goals versus Stuttgart earlier this week. Virgil Van Dijk had to come off after suffering a head wound in his last start but should be ready in time to lineup alongside Joe Gomez at the heart of the Liverpool backline. The defensive duo will hope to maintain a high line and keep things solid at the back while up against Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this weekend.
Neco Williams could get the nod yet again to operate at right-back while Andrew Robertson will be expected to produce another tireless display as the left-back. Both Liverpool full-back will focus on pushing high up the field so that they can provide enough support to the front players inside the opponent’s penalty box. James Milner will provide cover for the full-back positions by grabbing a place on the bench.
Midfield
Naby Keita is expected to get a start along with Fabinho and Georginio Wijnaldum as they try to establish Liverpool’s dominance in the middle of the pitch. All three midfielders will have spread the play well during the 90 minutes if they are to create enough chances to score in the final third.
Curtis Jones will be available for selection on the bench as he awaits his opportunity to influence the game as a second-half substitute if needed. However, Jordan Henderson will be unavailable as he is only set to return to full training after the Community Shield final this weekend.
Attack
Klopp will stick with his favourite front three of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah for this upcoming showdown at Wembley on Saturday. Firmino has already opened his goal-scoring account in pre-season by scoring one versus Stuttgart last weekend, so he might fancy his chances of finding the back of the net against Arsenal later this month.
Harvey Elliott and Rhian Brewster might have to settle for a spot on the bench. Brewster has scored three goals in his past two pre-season appearances, so he will be a real threat off the bench when the legs get tired in the second 45 minutes.
