Liverpool lineup vs Crystal Palace: Predicted XI for Sunday's Community Shield

Liverpool should have Virgil van Dijk back in their starting XI for the Community Shield against Crystal Palace at Wembley on Sunday.

Van Dijk missed both friendlies with Athletic Bilbao on Monday night due to illness, with Wataru Endo being forced to fill in alongside Ibrahima Konate.

Andy Robertson has also covered in the centre, but with Milos Kerkez coming in at left-back, his minutes will be reduced this season if it is not for injuries elsewhere.

Kerkez has featured prominently during pre-season, with Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike also getting their first minutes in a red jersey over the past few weeks.

Giorgi Mamardashvili, who was signed last summer but loaned back to Valencia, has returned to Anfield, and been a regular across the recent friendlies, so with Alisson Becker’s fitness a doubt, the Georgian stopper could start here.

Harvey Elliott was afforded additional time off after guiding England Under-21s to Euro glory over the summer, but he has now played his first full 90 minutes of pre-season, scoring in the process on Monday.

Cody Gakpo is one player who will need to battle hard for a starting spot given the new arrivals, and he staked his case with two goals against Bilbao in a surreal second half that also saw him score an unfortunate own goal.

Last season’s top scorer and Premier League Player of the Year Mohamed Salah found the net for the first time in preseason at Anfield on Monday, but he was culpable of blazing a penalty over the bar late on.

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