Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic will make his first appearance for the club against Fleetwood Town on Wednesday night.
The 20-year-old signed for the Reds in January, but was loaned back to Serbian side Red Star Belgrade, where he proceeded to secure SuperLiga success.
Grujic linked up with Jurgen Klopp‘s squad for pre-season training in July 2, and was granted a work permit two days later, taking the No. 16 shirt.
Missing Liverpool’s first pre-season friendly against Tranmere Rovers after having to leave the country to validate his international clearance, Grujic instead makes his debut at Highbury.
The Serbia international starts in midfield alongside Kevin Stewart and Trent Alexander-Arnold, in a 4-3-3 formation.
Fellow summer signing Loris Karius starts in goal, marshalling a back four of Jon Flanagan, Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren and Alberto Moreno.
Supported by Grujic, Stewart and Alexander-Arnold, a three-man attacking line of Lazar Markovic, Sadio Mane and Danny Ings will look to trouble the Cod Army’s defensive line.
As in Friday night’s 1-0 victory over Tranmere, Klopp is likely to field a different lineup for each half, ensuring that the likes of Cameron Brannagan, Ovie Ejaria, Roberto Firmino, Ryan Kent and Tiago Ilori will feature after the interval.
Grujic takes the place of Pedro Chirivella, with the Spaniard left out after playing 45 minutes at Prenton Park last week.
With Chirivella the only change to Klopp’s squad from their win over Tranmere, this means that Philippe Coutinho misses out, having only returned to pre-season training on Monday.
Liverpool XI vs. Fleetwood Town: Karius; Flanagan, Matip, Lovren, Moreno; Stewart, Grujic, Alexander-Arnold; Markovic, Mane, Ings
Substitutes: Bogdan, Firmino, Lucas, Brannagan, Ilori, Kent, Smith, Wisdom, Ejaria, Randall, Woodburn
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