With the long awaited new Premier League season set to kick off over the weekend, Liverpool face a trip to South London against newly promoted Fulham in their first game. 

Jurgen Klopp's reds missed out on the Premier League title by a narrow margin of just one point last season, and will be ready to go toe to toe with reigning champions Manchester City once again.

Their opponents Fulham, who were relegated to the Championship in the 2020/21 season, won the league last year, gaining promotion at the first time of asking under Portuguese manager Marco Silva

In their last season in the Premier League, Fulham avoided defeat against Liverpool both home and away, in a season where the Reds were crowned Premier League champions for the first in 30 years. 

  • Team news

Fulham 

The Cottagers have improved their squad with a  number of new signings this Summer, most recently signing German goalkeeper Bernd Leno from fellow London side Arsenal

Leno is set to go straight into Silva's starting XI, alongside the likes of fellow new boys Andreas Pereira and Joao Palhinha

Harry Wilson picked up a knee injury against Villarreal in pre-season, making him a serious doubt for the league opener, with Nathaniel Chalobah and Joe Byran also unlikely to play with injuries of their own.

Liverpool

Ibrahima Konate's absence was confirmed on Thursday with the centre half picking up a knock against Strasbourg, with Diogo Jota, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Caoimhin Kelleher all confirmed to be out for Saturday's game. 

Liverpool will be boosted by new striker Darwin Nunez who scored his first goal for the club in their 3-1 win over Manchester City in the Community Shield

Fabio Carvalho and Calvin Ramsay have also both joined over the Summer, but are unlikely to start against Fulham.

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 30: Darwin Nunez of Liverpool bites their winners medal after the final whistle of The FA Community Shield between <strong><a  data-cke-saved-href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2021/03/19/fulham/1064193-fulham-1-2-leeds-united-bamford-shines-in-enthralling-contest.html' href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2021/03/19/fulham/1064193-fulham-1-2-leeds-united-bamford-shines-in-enthralling-contest.html'>Manchester City</a></strong> and Liverpool FC at The King Power Stadium on July 30, 2022 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 30: Darwin Nunez of Liverpool bites their winners medal after the final whistle of The FA Community Shield between Manchester City and Liverpool FC at The King Power Stadium on July 30, 2022 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
  • Likely lineups

Fulham

Leno, Robinson, Adarabioyo, Ream, Mbabu, Reed, Palhinha, Pereira, Reid, Kebano, Mitrovic

Liverpool

Allison, Robertson, Van Dijk, Matip, Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Thiago, Henderson, Diaz, Salah, Nunez

  • Key players

Aleksander Mitrovic

Aleksander Mitrovic was Fulham's main man last season in the Championship, and the Cottagers will be relying on their Serbian striker once again in the Premier League

The 27-year-old scored 43 goals in 44 appearances in the Championship last season, claiming the division's golden boot by a country mile.

In his last Premier League season Mitrovic was only able to score three goals in 27 appearances, but the Serbian will be sure to improve on that tally if his previous campaign is anything to go by.

FARO, PORTUGAL - JULY 17: Aleksandar Mitrovic of Fulham FC in action during the Trofeu do Algarve match between Fulham and SL Benfica at Estadio Algarve on July 17, 2022 in Faro, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
FARO, PORTUGAL - JULY 17: Aleksandar Mitrovic of Fulham FC in action during the Trofeu do Algarve match between Fulham and SL Benfica at Estadio Algarve on July 17, 2022 in Faro, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

Mohamed Salah

Mohamed Salah has been Liverpool's most impressive player since he arrived in Merseyside from Roma in 2017.

The Egyptian winger scored 23 league goals and contributed a further 13 assists as Liverpool finished second in the Premier League last season.

The 30-year-old signed a new long term contract this summer, keeping him at Anfield for the foreseeable future. 

Salah will be expected to be the Reds' main man once again this year, and if they are to challenge for the league title they will need him to be firing on all cylinders.

KIRKBY, ENGLAND - AUGUST 04: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) <strong><a  data-cke-saved-href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/07/30/1118438-liverpool-3-1-manchester-city-reds-dominates-citizens-to-take-community-shield.html' href='https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2022/07/30/1118438-liverpool-3-1-manchester-city-reds-dominates-citizens-to-take-community-shield.html'>Mohamed Salah</a></strong> of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on August 04, 2022 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - AUGUST 04: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Mohamed Salah of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on August 04, 2022 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
  • Match details

Where is the game being played?

The match is being played at Fulham's Craven Cottage in South London.

What time is kick-off?

Kick-off for this fixture is scheduled for 12:30pm on Saturday, August 6th.

How can I watch?

Viewers in the UK will be able to watch coverage of this match live on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate.

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