Liverpool, coming off a season in which they achieved the highest points total in Premier League history for a runner-up, begin the quest to take the next step up on Friday night. The Reds will host newly promoted Norwich City in the season opener of Premier League play.
LFC came oh so close to finally ending their league title drought last season, accruing a points total that has only been exceeded two teams ever- Manchester City’s last two title winning sides. However, everyone is back at 0 this weekend.
They did however, end the overall trophy drought as they achieved their sixth European title. Liverpool’s preseason was kind of brutal, but of course the time to worry about preseason friendly results is…never, because they don’t matter.
For what it’s worth, the Reds have looked a lot better in August thus far, than they did in July. Here’s what we’re predicting Jurgen Klopp will go with in his first team on Friday night vs Norwich.
Liverpool FC Starting XI Prediction for the Community Shield
Divock Origi Roberto Firmino Mohamed Salah
Georginio Wijnaldum Fabinho Jordan Henderson
Trent Alexander-Arnold Joe Gomez Virgil van Dijk Andrew Robertson
Alisson
Sadio Mane was not able to feature, not even once, during the preseason as he had a very long tour of international duty in the Africa Cup of Nations. If he does play the day after tomorrow, then he’ll have an opportunity at history.
Should he score in this match, then he would equal Teddy Sheringham as being the only men to ever score in four straight season openers.
Kickoff: Friday, 8pm on August 8, Anfield
Google Result Probability: Liverpool win 85%, draw 10%, Norwich City win 5%
Score prediction: Liverpool 3, Norwich City 1
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.
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