Liverpool line-ups for Ipswich as Darwin Nunez and Alexis Mac Allister decisions made

The Arne Slot era gets underway today as the new Liverpool boss takes charge of his side in his first Premier League fixture against Ipswich Town. The Tractor Boys are back in the top flight after a 22-year absence under the highly rated Kieran McKenna and will be keen to spoil Slot's first full match.

Slot has a full bill of health in his Liverpool squad - a rarity for predecessor Jurgen Klopp - but several of his big stars such as Alexis Mac Allister, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Darwin Nunez returned late to pre-season after a busy summer of international football. It means his first Premier League line-up will make for an interesting selection.

The ECHO's writers pick their teams for the game.:

Paul Gorst

So here we go then, another Premier League season and a brand spanking new era for Liverpool Football Club.

It’s been written a lot on these pages in recent months but it’s difficult to overstate the point as Arne Slot gears up to lead his team out on Saturday lunchtime against newly-promoted Ipswich Town.

The team itself, however, will be largely the same given the lack of transfer activity so far and there are only really a handful of selection dilemmas for Slot to wrestle with.

I expect Kostas Tsimikas to start over Andy Robertson given the Scot’s lack of pre-season action while Ryan Gravenberch will be situated alongside Alexis Mac Allister in midfield. I’ve gone with Trent Alexander-Arnold over Conor Bradley, just.

As the No.10 in this system, it’s either Harvey Elliott or Dominik Szoboszlai and I think the former had a superb summer and looks tailor-made for that position.

Diogo Jota gets the nod ahead of Darwin Nunez due to the amount of work done with the club this summer. Nunez only returned from his holidays last week, his time will come.

My team (4-2-3-1):Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Max Allister; Salah, Elliott, Diaz; Jota.

Ian Doyle

A new season, a new manager, a new opponent. But, in terms of the playing squad, matters look very familiar for Liverpool.

The trip to Ipswich Town is the fifth time in the last six years the Reds will have opened their Premier League campaign against a promoted club, with three of those games coming away.

What, then, is head coach Arne Slot to do in his first competitive game in charge?

There are some selection posers. Not in goal, though, where Alisson Becker is firmly first choice between the sticks.

The centre-backs should be as they were at the end of last season, with Jarell Quansah the partner to Virgil van Dijk. Andy Robertson, though, isn't quite up to speed so Kostas Tsimikas can be left-back, with Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right.

Midfield is interesting. There will most likely be a double pivot, and while Alexis Mac Allister is nailed on for one slot, I'd like to see Curtis Jones alongside him. And in the number 10 role, Harvey Elliott deserves to be ahead of Dominik Szoboszlai.

On the flanks are the old favourites in Mohamed Salah on the right and Luis Diaz on the left. And down the middle it's Diogo Jota. The Liverpool bench should be pretty tasty, though.

My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Jones, Mac Allister; Salah, Elliott, Diaz; Jota.

Joe Rimmer

And so after an encouraging pre-season, the real stuff begins for Liverpool and Arne Slot. Make no mistake, Ipswich will provide a stern test after promise and promotion last season. The wind will very much be in their sails going into this one.

But Slot is putting his stamp on the Reds and he's got a strong squad of players to choose from with no injuries going into the game.

It means Alisson Becker starts in goal and a defence is made up of Conor Bradley, Virgil van Dijk, Jarell Quansah and Andy Robertson. Trent Alexander-Arnold returned later than his team-mates so I'd bring him from the bench for this one and Quansah had just nudged ahead of Ibrahima Konate in my pecking order.

Midfield is where things get tricky. Alexis Mac Allister is going to have to play, and I'd be more tempted to play Dominik Szoboszlai alongside him with Harvey Elliott just head. The manager may go for Ryan Gravenberch but I'm yet to be convinced of his as a six, and Elliott deserves to feature after an outstanding pre-season.

Up front I'd go with Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah either side of Diogo Jota, with Darwin Nunez an option from the bench.

My team (4-3-3): Alisson, Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Elliott; Diaz, Salah, Jota