Debuts will be the sub-plot to the predictably fiery Premier League opener between Leeds United and Manchester United in five weeks.
Jadon Sancho is set to cost Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side close to £73m while Junior Firpo will set Marcelo Bielsa’s club back around £60m less than that.
The left-back is already looking forward to narrowing the chasm between their respective transfer fees when they meet at Old Trafford next month.
Sancho is expected to play on the right of the hosts’ side while Firpo, all being well, will be ready to begin as the Whites’ left-back.
It would not be the first time they have faced one another. Firpo started Barcelona’s home match against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League back in November 2019.
On that night Sancho was a half-time entrant for the visitors and scored their only goal in a 3-1 defeat.
Marcus Rashford, another of Man United’s wide forwards, is another Firpo is excited to play against.
Speaking in a Q&A with LiveNow, Firpo was asked who he is most looking forward to facing.
“Maybe I like to match Rashford or Sancho, but Sancho I play against him in Dortmund [in the] Champions [League], but I want to play against Rashford, I like him,” he said.
Leeds began last season at Anfield, but will face an entirely different prospect this time around with the expectation Liverpool fans will be in place for the Boxing Day fixture.
Firpo picked out that trip to Merseyside as the match he is most looking forward to.
“Maybe Liverpool,” he said. “Liverpool at Anfield is a really, really good atmosphere, no?
“It’s really, really good fans and I always see on the TV all the fans singing You’ll Never Walk Alone.
“I want to play there. Yes, Liverpool.”
