Getty Jurgen Klopp signed a six-year extension in July.
Liverpool open their season at Vicarage Road to face Watford.
It’s a third season in red for Jurgen Klopp, who signed to stay with the club through 2022 in July. It’ll be a busy one, as Liverpool has earned a Champions League bid for the first time in his tenure. Positive things aside, Liverpool are missing a handful of players to face the Hornets.
Lallana is missing extended time, but it gets more complicated when Phillipe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge are also in doubt. The former could be headed out the door anyway, as Liverpool have already rejected two offers from Barcelona in the offseason.
Watford don’t have Barcelona calling, and they have plenty to improve upon this season. Watford finished 17th last season: the lowest spot in the table before relegation. Five straight losses to end the season could have easily sent them down, but by the ineptitude of others, they remain for another year. They’ve added Brazil U-20 member Richarlison to the squad, and that name alone has me intrigued.
Here are the basics:
DATE: Saturday, August 12, 2017
CHANNEL: NBC Sports Network
KICKOFF TIME: 10:00 a.m. Eastern
LOCATION: Vicarage Road
LIVE STREAM: Click here for all live streaming information
LINEUP
Liverpool: Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Matip, Moreno, Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum, Salah, Mane, Firmino
Watford: Gomes, Janmaat, Kaboul, Britos, Holebas, Doucoure, Chalobah, Amrabat, Cleverley, Pereyra, Okaka