:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56161567/675565248.0.jpg)
Football is back! Forget about Coutinho for 90 minutes and just enjoy the Reds playing again, after a long, dark summer. Unless they lose, of course, and then burn it all down.
I’m kidding -- sort of.
Liverpool head to Vicarage Road to take on Watford for the season opener, amid some player turmoil in the form of Philippe Coutinho having submitted a transfer request to the club. Coutinho wouldn’t have played anyway, because he has a “back injury”, so he’s out of the line up either way. Also out will be Daniel Sturridge, Adam Lallana, and Nathaniel Clyne. But barring some unforeseen injury, we’ll see get to see Firmino, Mané, and Salah start together for the first time, something fans have been waiting for since Liverpool acquired Salah. And while they’ll be a bit light in the midfield and....their usual selves in the defense, that attack should be exciting to witness.
Full Preview: Watford vs Liverpool
Kickoff: 12:30PM BST/7:30AM EST from Vicarage Road
Television: Sky Sports Premier League (UK); NBCSN (USA); Optus Sport (Australia); Sportsnet World (Canada); Star Sports Select HD1 (India); Astro SuperSport 3 (Malaysia); SuperSport 3 (Nigeria); 102 mio Stadium (Singapore); SuperSport 3 (South Africa); other listings at LiveSoccerTV
Online Streaming: SKY GO Extra (UK); NBC Sports Live Extra (USA) | Online Radio: LFCTV GO and TalkSport Radio World (International)
Starting XI: Gomes; Janmaat, Kaboul, Britos, Holebas; Chalobah, Doucouré; Amrabat, Cleverley, Pereyra; Okaka
Bench: Pantilimon, Prödl, Femenía, Watson, Capoue, Richarlison, Gray
Starting XI: Mignolet; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Matip, Moreno; Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum; Salah, Mane, Firmino
Bench: Karius, Klavan, Gomez, Milner, Grujic, Solanke, Origi
If you haven’t already, sign up for an SB Nation account and join the conversation on The Liverpool Offside, where we'll have full coverage of every Liverpool match this season, breaking news, opinion, and tactical discussion.