How Liverpool could line up against Chelsea

Champions Liverpool will look to make it two wins from two at the start of the new season as their Premier League title defence continues with a trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Sunday.

The Reds survived multiple scares at home to newly-promoted Leeds United on the opening day of the campaign, squandering the lead on three occasions before eventually running out 4-3 winners.

Liverpool will be expecting another difficult test in West London this weekend as they face the Premier League's biggest spenders, who also began in victorious fashion.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Jurgen Klopp could set his side out for the contest.

Out: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee) Doubtful: Kostas Tsimikas (fitness), Xherdan Shaqiri (muscle)

> Click here for Liverpool's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

New Liverpool signing Thiago Alcantara is not expected to feature on Sunday following his arrival from Bayern Munich on Friday, having not yet trained with his teammates.

There will be more focus on the midfield positions, though, and Fabinho could come back into the starting XI for this one after Liverpool were exposed a concerning number of times by Leeds on the opening day.

The back five is likely to be unchanged despite a questionable display in that match, although Kostas Tsimikas - Liverpool's other summer signing - should be available for selection having recovered from coronavirus.

Xherdan Shaqiri is also pushing to play some part after a muscle injury, but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is definitely still out with a knee problem.

Mohamed Salah will be desperate to build on his opening-day hat-trick when he takes to the field against his former club, and Liverpool have now won a Premier League-record 35 consecutive games in which he has found the back of the net.

Virgil van Dijk was the other goalscorer against Leeds - his 10th top-flight goal for the Reds since joining - but he also made his second error leading directly to a goal in his past four Premier League games - more than he registered in his first 154 appearances.

Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane will be hopeful of opening their accounts for the season against a goalkeeper that has conceded nine goals from the last 13 shots on target he has faced in the Premier League.

> Click here to see how Chelsea could line up for this contest

Watch Sports Mole's video preview for this match here: