Liverpool’s predicted XI vs Preston as Florian Wirtz debut forces new change of position

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Liverpool get their 2025/26 campaign underway under a dark cloud with a trip to Preston on Sunday.

Reds supporters had been looking forward to pre-season having made some brilliant signings following their success in the Premier League last term.

However, any excitement has gone following the sudden and tragic death of Diogo Jota last week. Liverpool plan to honour Jota before and during Sunday’s match at Deepdale, with tributes arriving from both clubs.

For the XI sent out by Arne Slot to begin Liverpool‘s title defence in earnest, this will mean so much more than just another game of football. And as they continue to mourn the loss of a friend and colleague, here is the team we think Slot will pick in Lancashire.

Defence

Liverpool’s goalkeeping department has overseen some vast changes this summer. Giorgi Mamardashvili is one of three new keepers, with the coaching personnel also changing massively.

However, while Mamardashvili is likely to play some part against Preston, we think Slot will initially stick with Alisson Becker to begin Sunday’s game.

There could be another new face at right-back, with Jeremie Frimpong now available for Slot. Again, though, we expect the Liverpool head coach to keep things slightly steady, and give Conor Bradley the nod.

The Reds are a little short at centre-back having sold Jarell Quansah this summer. Joe Gomez has not played since February, which makes a Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate partnership seem likely.

Meanwhile, the defence has seen another new addition in Milos Kerkez.

But, with Kerkez having spent less than a week training with his new teammates – and a very strange week at that – we think Andy Robertson will begin this one.

Midfield

If most of the new arrivals this summer have come in defence, then perhaps the most exciting has been in the forward areas.

There has been some debate over where Florian Wirtz will play, and it must be said that any prediction right now is a stab in the dark.

READ MORE: ‘Exceptional’ Liverpool player set to miss Preston friendly after picking up injury

In our opinion, however, Wirtz has been signed to play as Liverpool’s most advanced midfielder, and we think that’s what he’ll be deployed as here.

Ordinarily, that would mean Dominik Szoboszlai is out of the team. On Sunday, though, we think he’ll drop deeper to take Alexis Mac Allister’s position.

Mac Allister ended the season in need of careful management, and that could continue into the summer. With Wirtz guaranteed a place in the team, Szoboszlai may need to get used to playing in his new position. Ryan Gravenberch will surely complete a new-look three.

Attack

There looks likely to be a few changes in the Liverpool attack before the transfer window closes, but none have happened yet.

As a result, the front three is likely to have a similar flavour to last season.

Mohamed Salah will be desperate to score and get the campaign off in the right way, while Cody Gakpo is likely to play from the left.

Speculation has surrounded Luis Diaz for most of the summer, with a possibility remaining that he will leave over the coming months. But, for now, Diaz is still in place and we think he’ll go through the middle.

Plenty of changes should be expected from the bench, with Mamardashvili, Frimpong and Kerkez all likely to get on at some stage. Initially though, we expect to see a similar look from Slot.