Predicted Liverpool XI vs Leeds: Keita and Minamino both earn starts

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Liverpool begin the defence of their Premier League title against Leeds United later today as the champions lift the curtain on their season at Anfield.

The Reds won the league at a canter last season and the emphasis now is on them to defend their crown.

It hasn’t really been a summer of upheaval and Klopp will attack tomorrow with pretty much the same squad.

Ahead of the contest, we looked at an eleven that Klopp could deploy this evening.

In goal and back four

Alisson Becker is the club’s number one and he will retain that mantle for the 2020/21 campaign.

The back four is also an area that pretty much picks itself these days.

Trent Alexander-Arnold will play at right-back, with Andy Robertson likely to start on the opposite side.

Virgil van Dijk is the main man at central defender and alongside him, expect Joe Gomez to start against the Whites.

Midfield

Gini Wijnaldum looks to be on his way to Barcelona so it’s unlikely Klopp will utilise him against Leeds.

Jordan Henderson has stepped up his rehabilitation from the knee injury that ruled him out of the end of last season but probably won’t be fit for today.

With that in mind, Klopp might choose to utilise just two players in midfield.

The 2020/21 campaign might be a big one for Naby Keita and the £48 million player could start the first game of the season.

The Guinean warrior earns £120,000-a-week and if Wijnaldum leaves, this could be his season to shine.

Alongside him, it seems as though Fabinho will start, with the Brazilian proving a vastly underrated member of the Liverpool team last year.

In attack

Takumi Minamino played 90 minutes of last weekend’s 7-2 friendly win over Blackpool and he could get the nod in the No.10 role.

The Japanese player arrived in January for £7.25 million and like Keita, this season could be a big one for the forward.

Joining him in the attack will be the usual three-pronged force that Liverpool are renowned for.

Mo Salah will probably start on the right, with Sadio Mane out on the left once again.

Through the middle, Roberto Firmino will probably start and he will be looking to improve on the nine league goals he managed last season.

Here is how Liverpool might line-up against Leeds.