Liverpool vs. Olympiacos: Predicting the Reds' Starting XI

Liverpool host Greek champions Olympiacos at Anfield on Saturday afternoon as the Reds continue to gear up for the start of the new Premier League season, but which XI will head coach Brendan Rodgers send out on this occasion?

The Reds are unbeaten so far in preseason, having overcome the likes of Preston North End (4-0), an Indonesian XI (2-0), Melbourne Victory (2-0), and then the Thailand national team (3-0) on Sunday in their final warm-up fixture on their tour of the Far East and Australia.

However, with so much speculation currently surrounding the future of wantaway front man Luis Suarez, as well as the need to also integrate a raft of recent new signings into the first team, including Simon Mignolet, Kolo Toure, Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto, Rodgers has had plenty to deal with so far this summer.

And with just two more friendlies left to play in preseason after the Greek giants come to town this weekend before the serious stuff gets underway against Stoke City at Anfield on Saturday, Aug. 17, at Valerenga on Aug. 7 followed by a trip to Celtic on Aug. 10, Rodgers knows he has little time left to finalise his plans for the new campaign.

All of which makes the manager’s team selection for Saturday’s 12:45 p.m. BST kickoff even more intriguing, and this is the starting XI that we think Rodgers will go with against the Greeks in a 4-2-3-1 formation:

Goalkeeper: Simon Mignolet

Liverpool’s recently installed No. 1 has yet to let in a goal for the Reds since his £9 million move from Sunderland earlier this summer, and he will want to use the club’s final three preseason friendlies to continue his already successful integration into his new team, especially when it comes to communicating with his back four.

Right-Back: Andre Wisdom

Following the recent collapse of his reported move to Fulham, the utility defender could find himself given more game time than many people would have previously expected at Anfield next season, especially given his versatility.

Of course, the highly rated England Under-21 international will still need to turn in some eye-catching displays to convince Rodgers that he can be trusted with a first-team berth in the upcoming campaign, starting this weekend against the Greek champions.

Centre-Back: Martin Kelly

It must be like having a new signing for Rodgers to be able to now include the England international as part of his first-team plans following his successful recovery from the serious knee-ligament injury Kelly sustained against Manchester United last October.

And that comeback is set to be further tested with another appearance against the Greeks at Anfield on Saturday, as the versatile defender continues to stake his claim for a starting place in the Reds' back four against Stoke.

Centre-Back: Kolo Toure

The experienced Ivory Coast international has not put a foot wrong so far since his surprise free-transfer switch from Manchester City; however, his positional flexibility may ultimately count against him when Rodgers has to decide what his best team is.

However, expect the 32-year-old to be given yet another run-out at the heart of the Liverpool defence against Olympiacos, as Rodgers opts to give newly appointed vice captain Daniel Agger some much-needed R&R ahead of the new campaign. Meanwhile, Martin Skrtel also ponders a proposed switch to Napoli, via Ed Malyon of the Daily Mirror.

Left-Back: Jose Enrique

Liverpool’s only real option in the left-back role is Jose Enrique—unless you count young full-back Jack Robinson that is—and the attacking Spaniard is sure to start both Saturday’s warm-up, as well as the Reds’ opening top-flight fixture with Sunderland.

So Rodgers had better hope that the marauding left-sided defender does not pick up an injury then against the Greek giants at Anfield, or otherwise he will need to completely reshuffle his first-team plans.

Holding Midfield Player: Lucas Leiva

The Liverpool boss appears to have settled on a partnership of Lucas Leiva and Joe Allen with which to protect his defence next season, allowing captain Steven Gerrard to in turn be freed further up the pitch into more attacking areas.

And in order to give the duo as much time as possible in order to become accustomed to their new relationship, Rodgers now looks set to play the pair in all of the Reds’ remaining friendless this summer.

Holding Midfield Player: Joe Allen

The Wales international has now made a full recovery from the operation that he underwent back in March to help cure the long-standing shoulder problem which affected his debut campaign at Anfield. He has been pencilled in by his mentor Rodgers to both put out fires at the base of the Reds midfield, as well as start counterattacks for the team, next season.

Central/Attacking Midfield: Jordan Henderson

Having played in the majority of Liverpool’s preseason fixtures so far, Rodgers is likely to give influential captain Gerrard a rest for the visit of Olympiacos so as to allow fellow England international Jordan Henderson some much-needed game time ahead of the new season.

However, you feel that the 23-year-old will really need to shine against the Greeks if he wishes to force his way into the Northern Irishman’s thinking for the Premier League opener with Stoke.

Left Wing: Luis Alberto

The young Spanish wide man is still trying to find his feet at his new club, which is perhaps why he will be given a run on the left wing this weekend. Rodgers will want to know if he can be relied upon to change a game from the substitutes’ bench next season, which is where on current form the 20-year-old will be beginning the 2013/14 campaign.

Right Wing: Raheem Sterling

It is great to see the pacy 18-year-old back following the succession of niggling injuries that curtailed his appearances for the Merseysiders in the second half of last season. Already, the England international has managed to catch the eye with a series of impressive displays for the Reds.

Keep that type of form up between now and Aug. 17, and the wide man can expect to begin the campaign against Stoke on the wing for Liverpool.

Striker: Iago Aspas

The diminutive Spanish forward, signed from Celta de Vigo this summer, is already fast becoming a firm favourite with the Liverpool fans, helped by scoring a sensational 25-yard curler after coming on as a second-half substitute on his debut at Preston earlier this month.

And having continued that impressive form in front of goal on the Reds’ preseason tour of the Far East and Australia—where the 25-year-old also netted against both Melbourne and the Thai national team—Iago Aspas has now done enough to win his own personal duel with fellow front man Fabio Borini to be chosen as Daniel Sturridge’s strike partner next season.

Substitutes

GK: Jones
CB: Skrtel
RB: Flanagan
RB/LB: Johnson
LB: Robinson
CM: Gerrard
LM: Downing
AM: Coutinho
ST: Borini
ST: Suarez

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