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Confirmed: Van Dijk starts + surprise inclusion + Keita starts in stunning Liverpool XI vs. Norwich

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 08: Virgil Van Dijk of Liverpool during the Pre-Season Friendly fixture between Liverpool and Athletic Club at Anfield on August 8, 2021 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

Liverpool’s starting lineup has been released and Virgil van Dijk returns to the starting lineup while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is given a surprise start.

The Reds open their Premier League account tonight and will face Daniel Farke’s Championship-winning Norwich City side.

They travel to Carrow Road where they will hope to get off to a victorious start as they seek to dethrone Manchester City as Premier League champions.

Naby Keita is handed a start after his incredible form this summer, with his fitness no longer as much of a question mark.

James Milner starts ahead of Fabinho predictably but the surprise start is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain but after his energetic display against Osasuna, should we have seen it coming?

KIRKBY, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on August 11, 2021 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

KIRKBY, ENGLAND – AUGUST 11: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on August 11, 2021 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Joel Matip starts alongside Virgil van Dijk after the Dutchman penned a five-year contract on Friday.

Upfront, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane predictably start and are joined by Diogo Jota, who looked electric in the short period he was with the Reds after his return to pre-season.

Kostas Tskimas starts at left-back as he covers for the injured Andy Robertson while Trent Alexander- Arnold will maraud from right-back as expected.

Alisson Becker starts in goal.

STARTING  XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Keita; Salah, Jota, Mane.

SUBS: Kelleher, Fabinho, Konate, Firmino, Gomez, Minamino, Origi, Woodburn, Elliott.

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