It’s an all-England UEFA Super Cup in Istanbul, Turkey on Wednesday night as Champions League winners Liverpool FC battle Europa League champions Chelsea FC. Yes, by August 14, Liverpool will have already played two trophy matches, having come up short against Manchester City in the Community Shield just over a week ago.
The Reds’ sixth European championship is the only silverware of the Jurgen Klopp era so far, but here comes a very very favorable chance to add to the trophy case, as Chelsea looked a shambles at Manchester United yesterday.
Sure, Chelsea were without some key players, and they had some awful luck in the first half, but 4-0 is still 4-0 while Liverpool came out of the gates scorching! The Reds put up a massive first half against newly promoted Norwich City on Friday and then put on cruise control to a 4-1 victory.
Chelsea Super Cup Team News, Starting XI Prediction
Liverpool FC Super Cup Team News
Goalkeeper Alisson hobbled off during the Norwich victory with a calf issue and could be out for as much as eight weeks. Back-up right back Nathaniel Clyne is ruled out with a knee issue.
Other than that, it’s a near fully fit squad, with forward Sadio Mane easing back into the swing of things. Don’t expect Klopp to ease up in this one, as the German is synonymous with high intensity and this midweek affair will be no different.
Liverpool FC Starting XI Prediction for UEFA Super Cup vs Chelsea
Divock Origi Roberto Firmino Mohamed Salah
Georginio Wijnaldum Naby Keita Jordan Henderson
Trent Alexander-Arnold Joel Matip Virgil van Dijk Andrew Robertson
Adrian
UEFA Super Cup FYIs
Kickoff: Wednesday, August 14, 8pm, Vodafone Arena
Match official: Stephanie Frappart
TV: BT Sport 2
Super Cup score prediction: Liverpool 3, Chelsea 1
With the Reds having a more fit squad and in a much better place overall, it’s hard to pick against them in this clash.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
You can follow Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com on Twitter here and his cat on Instagram at this link.