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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Joe Rimmer & Connor Dunn & Paul Gorst

Rhian Brewster, Yasser Larouci and how Liverpool's lineup vs Borussia Dortmund might look

Liverpool begin their pre-season tour of the United States with a clash with Jurgen Klopp's former side Borussia Dortmund on Friday evening.

The game against the German giants represents a significant step up in quality for the Reds after two friendlies on home soil against Tranmere and Bradford City last week.

Klopp, however, will have something resembling a first-choice XI following the return to training for a host of stars over the past few days.

Here is how our reporters think Liverpool should line up against BVB.

Paul Gorst - As strong as possible

Blood Red: Ex-Liverpool defender Stephen Darby gets an amazing reception ahead of Bradford friendly

After morale-boosting friendlies with Tranmere and Bradford helped out neighbours and raised funds and awareness for charitable causes, the real work starts now for the European champions.

Borussia Dortmund will be ready - much like they were 12 months ago when they beat the Reds 3-1 - and Liverpool will have to ensure they are on their game at the Notre Dame Stadium.

That means the Reds must start as strong as possible with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk alongside Andy Robertson in the back four.

My midfield three would be Fabinho, Gini Wijnaldum and Jordan Henderson with a front three of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Divock Origi and Rhian Brewster down the centre.

Expect changes throughout, however. Dejan Lovren, Joe Gomez, Harry Wilson and James Miler will all play some part in the second period.

My team (4-3-3): Mignolet; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Henderson; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Origi, Brewster.

Connor Dunn - Larouci and Brewster start

Simon Mignolet is the obvious choice in goal and is likely to play 90 minutes between the sticks with no other real option available.

Andy Robertson returned to training on Saturday, July 13, but missed out on the session after needing surgery on his hand due to a minor injury.

The left-back though has since returned to training alongside his teammates in the USA so could feature for the Reds although it is Yasser Larouci who starts for me.

The youngster has been very impressive so far in pre-season and so gets a chance to make his mark as Robertson's replacement for the upcoming season with the senior player coming on later in the game.

Virgil van Dijk has also been training over in the States and so starts in centre-back alongside Joe Gomez.

Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool during a training session (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Gomez gets the selection to get him some early game time after missing a long period of last season and to see if he can rekindle that phenomenal partnership he had with Van Dijk at the start of last term.

Of course, that sees Joel Matip miss out but the Cameroonian will likely come on later in the game, while at right-back, it's Trent Alexander-Arnold who completes the defence.

The midfield is a conundrum that troubled Jurgen Klopp throughout last season and it's not set to get any easier with a number of players available to the manager.

For me Fabinho has to start, he was disappointingly not selected for Brazil in the Copa America but has therefore been back in training a while and is almost irreplaceable at Liverpool.

Joining him in a midfield three is what I feel is the strongest available to the Reds right now - Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum.

However, there are a lot of players vying for places in the engine room so Adam Lallana and James Milner would come on at some point.

Rhian Brewster starts in the middle of the frontline alongside Divock Origi and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the left and right respectively.

It will be a chance for Oxlade-Chamberlain to show off his versatility while also giving Brewster an opportunity to prove himself against a top European side in the favoured 4-3-3 formation.

Depending on how the match plays out it would be nice to see Ryan Kent also given an opportunity on the left given his performances in pre-season so far.

My team (4-3-3): Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Larouci, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Brewster, Origi

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