Ekitike home debut: How Reds could line up against Bilbao on

Liverpool will want to give as many first-team stars minutes against Athletic Bilbao on Monday given they will face Crystal Palace just six days later.

Expect summer signing Hugo Ekitike to make his debut at Anfield, leading the forward line ahead of fellow arrival Florian Wirtz, who will be positioned in a number 10 role.

Mohamed Salah is certain to play on the right flank, while Cody Gakpo is currently the club’s only senior left-wing option, so expect him to feature.

Boss Arne Slot welcomed midfielder Alexis Mac Allister back into the squad against Yokohama F. Marinos on Wednesday, and the Argentine will likely be selected from the first whistle in a double pivot with Ryan Gravenberch.

While Jeremie Frimpong could play as his team’s right-back, Conor Bradley started against Milan, and he can be expected to get the approval of Slot, while Milos Kerkez can be pencilled in on the left side of defence.

Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate would have been the favourites to appear in the heart of defence regardless, but the Achilles injury Joe Gomez suffered makes their selection a formality.

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker will enter the new season as the Merseysiders’ first choice between the posts, but given he left the Reds’ squad that travelled to Asia because of a personal matter, Giorgi Mamardashvili is set to deputise.

Liverpool possible starting lineup: Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike

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