Liverpool are on the road for the opening day matchup of the new Premier League campaign with Jurgen Klopp’s men facing the league’s new boys Norwich City on Saturday at Carrow Road.
The Merseysiders will be hoping to get the new season off to a good start against a newly-promoted outfit with Klopp keen to see his players shine after last season’s timid defence of their Premier League crown.
Jordan Henderson and Co. are backed to claim the win against their opening day opponents despite an uninspiring summer transfer window so far for the Anfield camp who have added only one new player to their ranks.
Ibrahima Konate’s arrival on Merseyside remains the sole piece of business done by Jurgen Klopp this summer and the Liverpool fans are concerned about rival clubs being rampant in their spending to sign star names.
Jack Grealish has made the move to the defending champions Manchester City in a big-money deal while the rivals across the city Manchester United have brought in Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane, putting the pressure on Klopp to bolster his squad which the Liverpool boss has suggested could be in line before the transfer window’s deadline later this month.
The visitors have the defensive trio of Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez back from long-term injury layoffs which had prevented them from featuring over the course of the previous campaign and their returns to the fold, especially that of the colossal-like Van Dijk, gives Klopp some much-needed respite on his squad selection front.
A win in their first fixture of the new season is bound to give much confidence to Liverpool who will be gunning for title-winning glory against the likes of City and Chelsea who head into the 2021-22 campaign with big-money signings at their disposal.
WHEN & WHERE?
Next up, a return to @premierleague action 👊 #NORLIV pic.twitter.com/IMgl0APpQZ
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 12, 2021
Date: 14 August 2021
Time: 4:30 PM GMT
Venue: Carrow Road
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool were handed a major setback on the injury front during their final pre-season friendly fixture as Andy Robertson limped off the pitch with an ankle injury.
The highly-rated full-back is now expected to miss the opening set of fixtures for Jurgen Klopp’s men with the Liverpool boss now tipped to hand a starting role to Kostas Tsimikas who has impressed the boss and fans alike with his pre-season showings.
Another injury concern for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp ahead of the opening day match at Carrow Road is the promising midfield talent Curtis Jones who had been backed to be handed a greater first-team role at Anfield after Gini Wijnaldum’s exit earlier in this summer transfer window.
Ibrahima Konate is in contention for his league debut for his new colours with Jurgen Klopp unlikely to draft Virgil van Dijk on his teamsheet for the game against Norwich City.
KEY BATTLE
Todd Cantwell v Mohammad Salah
The 28-year-old Salah remains Liverpool’s most lethal option in the final third of the pitch and the Egyptian, who missed out on the Golden Boot last season to Harry Kane by just one goal, will be hoping to find the back of the net and get his campaign going on the opening day.
For the hosts Norwich, it is the highly-rated Todd Cantwell who is expected to cause trouble for the Liverpool backline with his ability on the ball.
Match Prediction
𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏/𝟐𝟐 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞 👊 pic.twitter.com/b6bXytu7in
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 11, 2021
We expect Liverpool to secure the three points from their travels to Carrow Road over the coming weekend with the Merseysiders, despite a timid summer spending, having a host of star names to turn the game in their team’s favour.
