Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has elected to start Roberto Firmino over Darwin Nunez for the Reds' opening Premier League fixture of the 2022-23 season against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Firmino was given the nod for the Community Shield win over Manchester City last weekend but only lasted 59 minutes before Nunez came off the bench to score Liverpool's third at the King Power.

Klopp hinted at his pre-game press conference that Nunez would be eased in slowly, and the Reds boss has stuck with the more experienced Firmino to lead the line from the off.

With Diogo Jota still unavailable due to a hamstring injury, Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz unsurprisingly join Firmino in the final third - there is also a spot on the bench for Fabio Carvalho against his former club.

Jordan Henderson is chosen to start alongside Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara in the heart of the Reds' midfield, with Naby Keita and Curtis Jones both absent from the matchday squad.

Further back, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk form a familiar backline in front of Alisson Becker, who demotes Adrian to the bench after recovering from an abdominal injury.

Interestingly, there is also no place for Nat Phillips in the squad, despite Klopp hinting that the Bournemouth-linked defender would stay after Ibrahima Konate's injury.

Liverpool starting lineup: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Firmino, Diaz

Subs: Adrian, Gomez, Milner, Elliott, Nunez, Carvalho, Bajcetic, Van den Berg, Chambers

Fulham starting lineup: Rodak; Tete, Adarabioyo, Ream, Robinson; Palhinha, Reed, Pereira; Reid, Mitrovic, Kebano

Subs: Leno, Duffy, Mbabu, Francois, Cairney, Harris, Solomon, Stansfield, Muniz

Written by
Ben Knapton