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Liverpool team vs Chelsea confirmed as Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo decisions made

matt addison
·2-min read
Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister.
-Credit: (Image: Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images)


Liverpool boss Arne Slot has made three changes from the team that beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park last time out. Caoimhin Kelleher, Curtis Jones and Andy Robertson come into the team but Alexis Mac Allister is only on the bench.

In front of Irish goalkeeper Kelleher, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate make up the rest of the back four with Robertson. In the center, Jones is in for Mac Allister.

Ryan Gravenberch is at the base of the Liverpool midfield with Dominik Szoboszlai also there. Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo make up the Reds' forward line with the likes of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez both options in reserve.

For Chelsea, Enzo Fernandez is missing from the starting XI. Right-back Reece James comes into the team in defense while Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, both at one time Liverpool transfer targets, are in midfield.

"Going by the league table as things stand, Chelsea are the strongest opponents we have faced so far," Liverpool boss Slot wrote in his matchday program notes. "Going into this weekend, they were in fourth place having had a good start to the season and picking up some really good results along the way.

"This should not come as any surprise, of course. Chelsea have a lot of good players and they finished last season well also so it makes sense that they will continue to develop and improve and this is certainly happening right now.

"We have said repeatedly that there would be some big tests to come for us and this is definitely one of them. At the same time, it is also a big opportunity."

Liverpool starting XI in full: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Jota, Gakpo. Subs: Jaros, Quansah, Gomez, Tsimikas, Morton, Endo, Mac Allister, Diaz, Nunez.

Chelsea starting XI in full: Sanchez; James, Tosin, Colwill, Gusto; Lavia Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson. Subs: Bettinelli, Disasi, Badiashile, Veiga, Dewsbury-Hall, Enzo Fernandez, Neto, Felix, Nkunku.