How could Liverpool start with NONE of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, or Thiago?
It may be quite different. Liverpool will meet Chelsea in their first Premier League game on August 13th, while crucial player speculation persists.
Liverpool's summer exodus has taken unexpected turns that not even Jurgen Klopp could have predicted.
The German manager had previously made his intentions known during the transfer window, signing Alexis MacAllister and Dominik Szoboszlai for large sums of money. And, after their contracts expired, Roberto Firmino, James Milner, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, and Naby Keita all left the club.
However, club captain Jordan Henderson is on the verge of a big-money move to Saudi Arabia, where he will reunite with Steven Gerrard at Al Ettifaq. Al-Ittihad is apparently likely to make a £40 million approach for Fabinho, while a third Liverpool midfielder, Thiago, has conducted talks with Galatasaray and is being watched by former club Barcelona.
It has left Liverpool supporters wondering how their club will line up against Chelsea on the opening weekend of the Premier League season and beyond.
Mirror Football has looked at Klopp's potential starting lineups.
4-3-3
It's a shape Klopp has traditionally preferred since his arrival at Anfield in late 2015, but the personnel will be drastically different if Henderson, Thiago, and Fabinho go.
It's a thought that will no certainly fuel his pursuit of Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, who would most likely play in front of the back four in a midfield three. Mac Allister and Szoboszlai would then be tasked with providing forward innovation, while Trent Alexander-Arnold may potentially be projected forward as he was at the end of last season.
Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez may then hold two of the three forward positions, with Luis Diaz in line to join them, fitness permitting. However, the Reds have options in this area, with Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo waiting in the wings.
3-2-2-3
Trent Alexander-Arnold's shift into midfield, as we saw at the conclusion of last season, opens up a whole new variety of options for Liverpool, and while he may not start there on the teamsheet before a match, his move into the position can release numerous players around him.
With Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, and Andy Robertson all shifting across to create a back three, the academy product can now link up with the new lads in midfield.
4-1-3-2
Liverpool's defensive issues were well chronicled last season, and with no reinforcements in that department on the way, Klopp may reconsider his all-out assault mentality that has defined his time on Merseyside thus far.
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