Double fitness boost for Klopp | Team news & expected Liverpool line-up vs Norwich

Liverpool get the 2019/20 Premier League campaign underway when they entertain Norwich City at Anfield on Friday night. Here is the Liverpool team team news and expected line-up for the game.

Goalkeeper: Liverpool signed Adrian as a replacement for Simon Mignolet this summer after the Belgian international joined Club Brugge but the former West Ham keeper will be nothing more than a back-up for Alisson this season. The Brazilian international is certain to keep his place between the sticks.

Defence: Liverpool are expected to stick with a back four that served them well last season with Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold continuing in the full-back positions.

Virgil van Dijk will obviously marshall the back-line and he’ll be looking to build on a sensational campaign last season. It will be interesting to see who Klopp chooses as van Dijk’s partner now that Joe Gomez is fit again and the youngster started in the Community Shield so he may get the nod over Joel Matip tomorrow night.

Midfield: Big things are expected of Fabinho this season and the Brazilian should keep his place in the holding role while Jordan Henderson should line-up alongside him after a solid display at Wembley last weekend.

Klopp confirmed at his pre-match press conference this afternoon that James Milner is fully fit after recovering from a minor knock while Naby Keita is also pushing for a recall but I think Georginio Wijnaldum will keep his place in midfield.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is another option for Liverpool but the former Arsenal man has endured an inconsistent pre-season as he looks to get back to his pre-injury form so a place on the bench is expected against Norwich.

Attack: Mohamed Salah started in the Community Shield against Manchester City last weekend so the Egyptian international is fully expected to line-up against the Canaries at Anfield tomorrow.

Roberto Firmino has looked sharp in pre-season so the South American forward should keep his place in the Liverpool starting eleven but Klopp has a decision to make over who’ll join him.

Sadio Mane only returned to pre-season training last weekend following an extended break after his participation at the African Cup of Nations but Klopp confirmed today that the Senegal international is available to start tomorrow.

However, after only a few days of training I think it would be an unnecessary risk for Liverpool to throw him straight in at home to Norwich so I think we’ll see Mane on the bench on Friday night.

That leaves a space needing to be filled in attack and Divock Origi is favourite to keep his place after starting against City last week so we should see the likes of Rhian Brewster and Xherdan Shaqiri on the bench.

Here is how I think Liverpool will line up: