Jurgen Klopp and Arsene Wenger have both included summer signings in their starting line-ups for the opening game of the 2016/17 season.
Big things are expected of Granit Xhaka after his arrival from Borussia Monchengladbach in a move worth around £30m, but the Swiss international will start from the bench.
Mohamed Elneny will anchor the Gunners’ midfield alongside Francis Coquelin, though one new man – centre-back Rob Holding – will start the game.
For the first time this @PremierLeague season, here is your @Arsenal team… #AFCvLFC pic.twitter.com/7iOhcQrpsx
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 14, 2016
Liverpool, meanwhile have handed starts to three of their summer signings.
Ragnar Klavan will partner Dejan Lovren at centre-back, with Gini Wijnaldum and Sadio Mane both included from the outset.
Alex Manninger and Joel Matip, who joined from Augsburg and Schalke respectively, are on the bench, as is Marko Grujic, who arrived in January but spent the second half of last season out on loan.
The #LFC squad for today's meeting with @Arsenal in full #AFCvLFC pic.twitter.com/Nk9gsnPwuy
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 14, 2016
There is also a place on the Liverpool bench for two youngsters. Midfielder Kevin Stewart played a few times for the first team last season, while 17-year-old Trent Alexander-Arnold could make his Premier League debut if he gets onto the pitch.
Arsenal fans, meanwhile, are not exactly thrilled with the decision to leave out Xhaka from the start. They have offered theories, but the mood is a mix of confusion and ‘typical Arsenal’ anger.
Xhaka on the bench, perhaps so coquelin/elneny can protect inexperienced CBs. Odd choice, but that's the only explanation I can think of
— Jonny Singer (@Jonny_Singer) August 14, 2016
https://twitter.com/samueljadrew/status/764797007974326272
