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It's arguably one of the most anticipated pre-season friendlies of recent Liverpool times.

Reds supporters travelling to Chester on Saturday will do so with a spring in their step, optimistic of what the future holds after last season's memorable charge to the Champions League final.

Add in the fact that Naby Keita and Fabinho will make their debuts into the usual mix of optimism and confidence and you have a potent cocktail for match-goers this weekend.

The 26-man contingent returned to pre-season training on Monday as Klopp began to whip his charges into shape ahead of a hectic schedule that includes nine fixtures and trips to the USA, France and Ireland.

(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

First up though is a quartet of north-west-based friendlies, with the first of bunch at the Swansway Chester Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The likes of James Milner, Adam Lallana and Loris Karius will all join Keita and Fabinho, but there are also a number of big-name stars who will be absent.

Virgil van Dijk and Gini Wijnaldum haven't reported back to training yet and Jordan Henderson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dejan Lovren and Roberto Firmino are all still involved in the World Cup quarter-finals - as is Simon Mignolet.

Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are also enjoying some time off after their exertions in Russia.

So just what kind of line up can Klopp field this weekend?

In truth, he is expected to give as many of his 26-man squad as possible some minutes, but he could still name a fairly strong starting XI on Saturday afternoon.

Goalkeeper

(Image: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Caoimhin Kelleher and Kamil Grabara have been training alongside Danny Ward at Melwood this week, but Loris Karius will make his first appearance since he was last seen in floods of tears in the the bowels of the NSC Olimpiyskiy after the Champions League final.

Karius divides opinion among many as Liverpool's first choice goalkeeper and many have called for Klopp to take decisive action in the transfer market this summer.

However, he will surely be afforded a good reception when he appears on Saturday.

The German looks set to retain his place at Liverpool 's No.1 next season as it stands.

Defence

First-choice defensive pairing Van Dijk and Lovren are not involved and with Joel Matip also absent, Joe Gomez and Ragnar Klavan may get the nod at centre-back for the Reds.

Nathaniel Clyne is likely to start at right-back with Andy Robertson and Alberto Moreno vying for the same spot on the left side. Expect Robertson to start the first half.

Academy starlet Nathaniel Phillips could also come into contention at centre-back.

Midfield

(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

The headlines act of the day.

Klopp will surely start both Fabinho and Naby Keita in the engine room to give fans the chance to get a glimpse of nearly £100million worth of midfield talent.

Keita's arrival has been hotly-anticipated for 11 months, since his signing was confirmed on a late August Bank Holiday in 2017. The all-action Guinea international moves to Anfield as one of the most gifted midfielders in Europe and comes with glowing recommendations of those who watch him regularly at RB Leipzig for the past two years.

The versatile Fabinho is more defensive-minded than Keita, but is another who Liverpool supporters will be casting a close eye over on Saturday. Expect those two to form two thirds of Klopp's midfield, with one of Lallana or Milner comprising the three-man lineup.

Promising youngster Curtis Jones may also play a part at some stage.

Forwards

(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

No Mane, no Salah, no Firmino. Klopp will have to get creative for his front three in Chester.

Danny Ings could start in the central role, despite his desire to seek pastures new this summer. Dominic Solanke will rival him however, while Harry Wilson, Sheyi Ojo and Ben Woodburn could also be given an opportunity to impress in the wide areas.

Divock Origi is another who could be named in any of the front three - although the Belgian may have designs on nailing down a starting place centrally for the next few weeks until Firmino's link up in the United States.

Daniel Sturridge could feature, but his future prospects look bleak at Anfield, while Lazar Markovic will surely move on this transfer window.

Predicted XI: Karius; Clyne, Klavan, Gomez, Robertson; Keita, Fabinho, Lallana; Wilson, Woodburn; Origi.

Full list: Rafa Camacho, Pedro Chirivella, Nathaniel Clyne, Fabinho, Joe Gomez, Kamil Grabara, Danny Ings, Curtis Jones, Loris Karius, Naby Keita, Caoimhin Kelleher, Ryan Kent, Ragnar Klavan, Adam Lallana, Lazar Markovic, James Milner, Alberto Moreno, Sheyi Ojo, Divock Origi, Nathaniel Phillips, Andy Robertson, Dominic Solanke, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Ward, Harry Wilson, Ben Woodburn.