Get our LFC newsletter for the best Reds coverage Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up now Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice It's arguably one of the most anticipated pre-season friendlies of recent Liverpool times. Reds supporters travelling to Chester on Saturday will do so with a spring in their step, optimistic of what the future holds after last season's memorable charge to the Champions League final. Add in the fact that Naby Keita and Fabinho will make their debuts into the usual mix of optimism and confidence and you have a potent cocktail for match-goers this weekend. The 26-man contingent returned to pre-season training on Monday as Klopp began to whip his charges into shape ahead of a hectic schedule that includes nine fixtures and trips to the USA, France and Ireland. (Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) First up though is a quartet of north-west-based friendlies, with the first of bunch at the Swansway Chester Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The likes of James Milner, Adam Lallana and Loris Karius will all join Keita and Fabinho, but there are also a number of big-name stars who will be absent. Virgil van Dijk and Gini Wijnaldum haven't reported back to training yet and Jordan Henderson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dejan Lovren and Roberto Firmino are all still involved in the World Cup quarter-finals - as is Simon Mignolet. Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are also enjoying some time off after their exertions in Russia. So just what kind of line up can Klopp field this weekend? In truth, he is expected to give as many of his 26-man squad as possible some minutes, but he could still name a fairly strong starting XI on Saturday afternoon. Goalkeeper (Image: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) Caoimhin Kelleher and Kamil Grabara have been training alongside Danny Ward at Melwood this week, but Loris Karius will make his first appearance since he was last seen in floods of tears in the the bowels of the NSC Olimpiyskiy after the Champions League final. Karius divides opinion among many as Liverpool's first choice goalkeeper and many have called for Klopp to take decisive action in the transfer market this summer. However, he will surely be afforded a good reception when he appears on Saturday. The German looks set to retain his place at Liverpool 's No.1 next season as it stands. Defence First-choice defensive pairing Van Dijk and Lovren are not involved and with Joel Matip also absent, Joe Gomez and Ragnar Klavan may get the nod at centre-back for the Reds. Nathaniel Clyne is likely to start at right-back with Andy Robertson and Alberto Moreno vying for the same spot on the left side. Expect Robertson to start the first half. Academy starlet Nathaniel Phillips could also come into contention at centre-back. Midfield (Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) The headlines act of the day. Klopp will surely start both Fabinho and Naby Keita in the engine room to give fans the chance to get a glimpse of nearly £100million worth of midfield talent. Keita's arrival has been hotly-anticipated for 11 months, since his signing was confirmed on a late August Bank Holiday in 2017. The all-action Guinea international moves to Anfield as one of the most gifted midfielders in Europe and comes with glowing recommendations of those who watch him regularly at RB Leipzig for the past two years. The versatile Fabinho is more defensive-minded than Keita, but is another who Liverpool supporters will be casting a close eye over on Saturday. Expect those two to form two thirds of Klopp's midfield, with one of Lallana or Milner comprising the three-man lineup. Promising youngster Curtis Jones may also play a part at some stage. Forwards (Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) No Mane, no Salah, no Firmino. Klopp will have to get creative for his front three in Chester. Danny Ings could start in the central role, despite his desire to seek pastures new this summer. Dominic Solanke will rival him however, while Harry Wilson, Sheyi Ojo and Ben Woodburn could also be given an opportunity to impress in the wide areas. Divock Origi is another who could be named in any of the front three - although the Belgian may have designs on nailing down a starting place centrally for the next few weeks until Firmino's link up in the United States. Daniel Sturridge could feature, but his future prospects look bleak at Anfield, while Lazar Markovic will surely move on this transfer window. Predicted XI: Karius; Clyne, Klavan, Gomez, Robertson; Keita, Fabinho, Lallana; Wilson, Woodburn; Origi. Full list: Rafa Camacho, Pedro Chirivella, Nathaniel Clyne, Fabinho, Joe Gomez, Kamil Grabara, Danny Ings, Curtis Jones, Loris Karius, Naby Keita, Caoimhin Kelleher, Ryan Kent, Ragnar Klavan, Adam Lallana, Lazar Markovic, James Milner, Alberto Moreno, Sheyi Ojo, Divock Origi, Nathaniel Phillips, Andy Robertson, Dominic Solanke, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Ward, Harry Wilson, Ben Woodburn.<doc-sep>Liverpool will begin their pre-season preparations with a short trip to the Swansway Chester Stadium on Saturday. Chester, who play their football in the Vanarama National League North following relegation last season, are managed by former Salford City pair Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson. This will be the first match of pre-season for both sides - read on for a closer look at the fixture... Team selection... Aside from Adam Lallana and Joel Matip, all of the Liverpool players who returned on Monday are available to feature, including new signings Naby Keita and Fabinho. Jürgen Klopp will use the full depth of his squad, with an opportunity for the likes of Harry Wilson and Sheyi Ojo following productive loan spells with Hull City and Fulham respectively. The opposition... Liverpool continue a recent trend of beginning pre-season with local friendlies, although this will be their first trip to Chester. The club, formed in 2010, was established by fans upon the dissolution of Chester City. The stadium, the same one in which the former club used to play, has a maximum capacity of 5,376. Watch the friendly with Chester FC, kick-off 3pm BST, live and exclusively on LFCTV and LFCTV GO>>> Fresh faces... Chester have multiple new additions who may play some part: Grant Shenton has played in goal under the management team in the past and has been acquired for the 2018-19 season, while new defender Steven Howson has also previously played for Morley and Johnson. Multiple players from Chester's youth system have been handed professional contracts for the upcoming campaign. The road ahead... Saturday's fixture is followed by a game against Tranmere Rovers in midweek; this will be the third season in a row that the Reds have visited Prenton Park as part of their preparations. Bury and Blackburn Rovers round off the local games, after which the squad travel to America to take part in the International Champions Cup. A match against Napoli at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin follows, before pre-season is concluded when Torino visit Anfield on August 7. The Premier League season gets under way the next weekend, when Liverpool play host to West Ham United.<doc-sep>Jurgen Klopp will field two different lineups in each half at Chester on Saturday, but selecting them isn’t as easy as you’d expect. The Reds kick off at the Swansway Stadium at the same time as England’s World Cup quarter-final against Sweden (3pm UK). While supporters may be torn over the possibility of seeing new signings and returning loanees in action and the Three Lions’ first last-eight clash since 2006, Klopp’s focus is unwavering and a major reason for the lack of re-scheduling. Chester provide comfortable opposition in Liverpool’s first friendly of the summer, and having only returned to Melwood on Monday, Klopp has confirmed he will make a raft of changes at half-time. Some will be dictated by absences, with 14 players currently out of action, which could see some eccentric tactical work—like Shamal George’s appearance up front in 2016! So who is available to start, who can alternate for the second half and who can the manager rely on as cover? Here are two potential lineups for the Reds on Saturday. First Half Karius; Clyne, Gomez, Klavan, Robertson; Fabinho, Keita, Woodburn; Wilson, Ojo, Solanke Despite the absence of 14 players due to international duty and injuries, Klopp has an opportunity to field a strong starting side in Cheshire. Loris Karius is currently considered Liverpool’s No. 1, despite his nightmare end to the season, and he should start between the sticks. After a difficult season marred by injury, Nathaniel Clyne will look to make his mark at right-back, with a lack of alternatives providing Joe Gomez a chance at centre-back alongside Ragnar Klavan. Andy Robertson arrived midway through pre-season last summer, but can benefit from a full programme as he goes from strength to strength after an exciting first season on Merseyside. All eyes, however, will be on Fabinho and Naby Keita in midfield, and Klopp is unlikely to resist the temptation to field both of his new signings together. Meanwhile, Ben Woodburn serves as a great option to complement the pair, and having spent much of last term as a spectator he will be keen to impress. Harry Wilson and Sheyi Ojo both have a point to prove after their loan spells in 2017/18, while Dominic Solanke can set out his stall early as he vies for the role of first-choice backup to Roberto Firmino. Second Half Ward; Milner, Phillips, Klavan, Moreno; Chirivella, Keita, Jones; Ings, Kent, Origi Danny Ward‘s inclusion will satisfy many, with the Welsh stopper overlooked throughout last season despite having been denied another loan move to Huddersfield Town. With Gomez required at centre-back, James Milner could fill in at right-back, but with Joel Matip ruled out, Klavan could stay on to partner Nathaniel Phillips. Spanish duo Alberto Moreno and Pedro Chirivella should come in as left-back and No. 6 respectively, while Adam Lallana‘s absence could see Keita retained beyond the 45-minute mark, having been in training since the end of June. Having been drafted into Klopp’s training squad towards the end of last season, Curtis Jones could make his first appearance for the senior side, and could provide an exciting outlet. Ryan Kent is in a similar position to Ojo and will be keen to catch Klopp’s eye out wide, and while Danny Ings has set his sights on a move he should be included on the opposite flank. As he competes with Solanke for a place in Klopp’s thoughts, Divock Origi will be looking to hit the target. Substitutes Grabara, Kelleher, Allan, Markovic, Sturridge, Camacho Klopp has led a 28-man squad through sessions this week, and he could make further changes in the second half to reflect this. Kamil Grabara and Caoimhin Kelleher are unlikely to feature, but should be given a chance at some stage this summer, while Allan Rodrigues is a doubt as he works his way back from shoulder surgery. Lazar Markovic and Daniel Sturridge should head through the Anfield exit this summer, but provide alternatives in attack if Klopp requires them. Finally, like Jones, Rafa Camacho has made the step up to the senior squad having impressed for the U23s last season, and his brand of direct attacking play could give Liverpool a spark late on. Virgil van Dijk and Georginio Wijnaldum will return to Melwood on Sunday morning, with their first involvement likely to come away to Bury on July 14.<doc-sep>Get our LFC newsletter for the best Reds coverage Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up now Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Forget the World Cup (if you can, as good as it’s been) – proper football is back. Yes, six weeks on from the Champions League final, Liverpool get their pre-season preparations under way this afternoon at non-league neighbours Chester FC. That means the Anfield+ Weekend Preview returns on the free LFC ECHO app – and for today’s podcast we’ve spoken to our own James Pearce and the chairman of Chester. So how can you listen to Anfield+ podcasts? You’ll need the LFC ECHO app – which can be downloaded for free for Apple users HERE and Android users HERE . Once you’ve downloaded the app, tap on the Anfield+ section at the top to listen to our new, daily podcasts – as well as firm-favourites Blood Red, Poetry in Motion and Allez Les Rouges. So what’s our latest Anfield+ podcast about? A preview of today’s friendly at Chester FC. The match marks the first for Loris Karius since his Champions League final nightmare – and our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce examines the pressure the German goalkeeper could be under at the Deva Stadium and throughout pre-season. The focus on Karius and the search for a new keeper, aligned with the Nabil Fekir transfer saga, has taken the spotlight somewhat off Naby Keita. But James cannot wait to see the £52.7m man in action for the first time alongside fellow new boy Fabinho. James also underlines the importance of the game to the Reds youngsters – and one in-demand winger in particular – ahead of the tour of America. Before jetting out to the States, Jurgen Klopp’s side will face four lower-league clubs from across the North West, starting with Chester, whose chairman David Harrington-Wright tells us just how big a deal it is to host Liverpool. Chester, at one stage last season, looked like going under, but thanks to the incredible fundraising efforts of their supporters, and subsequently the generosity of a local businessman, they are now plotting a brighter future. But David makes clear just how vital Liverpool have been and will continue to be for the fan-owned club. It’s a good listen. Enjoy.<doc-sep>
In case you hadn't noticed, there's a football match this afternoon. A significant football match. And it kicks-off at 3pm. Yes, Liverpool start their preparations for the 2018/19 season at Chester's Swansway Stadium in the first of nine pre-season fixtures. What is it? It's Liverpool's first pre-season friendly ahead of the 2018/19 season, against National League North club Chester. What time's kick off? The whistle will be blown at 3pm on Saturday. Sound familiar? Well, it's probably because the England vs Sweden match is kicking off at the exact same time, clearly LFC and Chester, like many of us, didn't think England would be getting this far. Where is it being played? The Reds take to the pitch at the Swansway Chester Stadium, only about a 45 minute drive away from Anfield. How can I watch it? Well, the Swansway stadium has a small capacity of just 5,400 and all tickets are already sold out... Scouse not English and all that. But, don't worry, you'll still be able to watch the Reds. For everyone in the UK and Northern Ireland, the match is being streamed live exclusively on LFCTV or LFCTV GO and supporters across the rest of the world can watch live on LFCTV GO. All of the build-up begins an hour earlier, so switch on at 2pm for all the pre-match buzz. LFCTV is on Sky channel 425 or Virgin Media channel 544. And if you don't have a subscription, please check out our Live Matchblog, with Liverpool reporter James Pearce at the Swansway Stadium to bring you every kick of the action. Who's going to be playing and any team news? The new faces of Fabinho and Naby Keita, who started their training at Melwood on Monday, could make their first appearance in red shirts on Saturday. When Jurgen Klopp was asked by Liverpool.com if the new signings would join the Reds at Chester, he said: “Yes, hopefully. “If they’ll start, I don’t know, to be honest. I haven’t made the line-up so far, I have to see who is available. But, yes, they will be involved for sure.” (Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) Apart from Adam Lallana and Joel Matip, all the Liverpool players not still involved at the World Cup are available to play, including Andy Robertson, Daniel Sturridge and Loris Kairus. However, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane are taking a break after their exertions in Russia, before heading back to training at Melwood. Klopp may also use this opportunity to give run-outs to Harry Wilson and Sheyi Ojo, after they returned from loan spells last season. What's next for Liverpool? After Saturday, the Reds play Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday. Following this game, Bury and Blackburn Rovers are next on Klopp's preparation list. The squad then heads out to the USA in the International Champions Cup, before concluding their pre-season with matches against Napoli and Torino. The Reds kick off their Premier League campaign on Sunday, August 12 against West Ham at 4pm.