Liverpool kick-off their season welcoming a strong Watford FC side on Saturday. The Hornets look into the upcoming season with new hope as they brought in Marco Silva and a couple of players who are desperate to prove themselves.
The Reds, on the other hand, go into the game with a number of important players sidelined due to injuries. After squeezing into the top four on the last day of the season, manager Jurgen Klopp would want his side to get rolling right from the start and keep hold of their momentum.
Predicted 4-3-3 Liverpool Line Up vs Watford
Defence
The position under the bar should be taken by Belgian international Simon Mignolet. The 29-year-old had prevailed as Klopp’s first choice eventually after the German manager started with Karius last season. Mignolet ended up conceding 30 goals in 28 games and would hope to keep his performance intact.
The back four should see changes as the manager is without Nathaniel Clyne on the right defensive flank and the new arrival Andrew Robertson pushing for a first team chance. The central defensive duo of Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren should be same with Alberto Moreno and young Trent Alexander-Arnold expected to take the flanks.
Robertson is unlikely to be thrown into the middle this time with Liverpool’s Champions League qualifying game against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in three days. Same goes with James Milner, whose services will be needed on Tuesday in Germany. Mamadou Sakho still recovers from his knee injury.
Midfield
The condition doesn’t improve as we come to the midfield either. While their star midfielder Adam Lallana is out until October with a thigh injury, skipper Jordan Henderson is expected to sit this game out with illness.
Klopp is expected to go with Georginio Wijnaldum, Emre Can and young Marko Grujic in his three-man midfield leaving it devoid of creativity and fragile to some extent. However, Watford are unlikely to keep with the pace of Liverpool’s fierce counter attacks at Anfield and Klopp should escape without any scratch.
James Milner could be asked to reprise his midfield role from the bench if things start going south, although it is quite unlikely to happen.
Attack
Liverpool’s superstar Phillipe Coutinho has been hugely linked with a move to Barcelona in the past one week and until matters sort out, him playing could be risky. The Brazilian misses with a back injury anyway and is expected to return next week.
We expect new signing Mohamed Salah, Robert Firmino and Sadio to start in the front three.
