Jordan Henderson makes his first Premier League appearance since sustaining a knee injury against Brighton in the first week of July when Liverpool FC begin their title defense against Leeds United at home shortly.
🔴 MATCHDAY 🔴
New season. New challenge. UP THE REDS!! #YNWA pic.twitter.com/IyEOKWkCa2
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 12, 2020
The Reds’ skipper’s absence in Jurgen Klopp’s playing XI to face last season’s Championship winners was largely expected by a large section of the club’s supporters, with Henderson having played no part in his side’s FA Community Shield loss to Arsenal last month.
However, the 30-year old does start the game against Marco Bielsa’s men in the center of the park alongside Naby Keita and Gini Wijnaldum. The latter is included in the XI to face the Whites despite being heavily linked with a move to FC Barcelona this summer.
In order to accommodate Henderson’s presence in the starting XI, Fabinho drops down to the bench, a decision that is bound to confuse the Merseyside club’s supporters.
A familiar-looking backline is fielded by Klopp, with Trent Alexander Arnold returning to first-team action in the Liverpool FC shirt after a significant period of time. Sidelined since June’s Merseyside Derby, Joel Matip features on the bench for the Reds and is likely to get a few minutes on the pitch.
The Firmino-Mane-Salah trio is as expected leading the attacking line for the defending Premier League champions against Leeds United, in what could prove to be an exciting encounter between the two sets of sides employing quite a similar tactical approach in their style of play.
Here are how both the teams line up for the upcoming clash:Â
Liverpool FC XI
Here’s how we line up for our @premierleague opener 👊🔴#LIVLEE
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 12, 2020
Leeds United FC XI
📰 Your #LUFC Starting XI…
— Leeds United (@LUFC) September 12, 2020
