Champions Liverpool take on FA Cup winners Arsenal in the Community Shield at Wembley today.
The Gunners beat the Reds at the Emirates Stadium back in July after Jurgen Klopp’s side had already won the title and both sides are looking to kick off the new campaign with another piece of silverware.
Liverpool and Arsenal were worlds apart last season though with Klopp’s men winning 33 more points than the north Londoners in the Premier League.
As the two Premier League giants prepare to go head to head, Sportsmail picks a combined XI using players who are fit and available for Saturday’s match.
Champions Liverpool take on Arsenal in the Community Shield at Wembley on Saturday
Sportsmail has picked a combined XI of the title and FA Cup winning sides ahead of the game
Goalkeeper
Alisson (Liverpool)
The Brazilian kept 13 clean sheets in the 2019-20 Premier League campaign, despite missing the start of the season through injury.
Alisson rarely puts a foot wrong and has regularly got his team out of trouble with a big save. While Adrian is a respectable back-up, Liverpool’s defence look far more solid with their No 1 choice behind them.
Emiliano Martinez was one of Arsenal’s FA Cup heroes and has proved he can produce on the big stage, but the Argentine is not quite on the same level as his opposite number.
The reliable Brazilian kept 13 clean sheets in the 2019-20 Premier League campaign
Right-back
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
It’s touch and go whether the defender will be fit enough to start but he gets the nod here.
With 25 assists across his last two Premier League seasons, Alexander-Arnold is one of the best full-backs in the world.
He may be kept busy defensively if Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney is allowed to get forward down the left but the Gunners will have to make sure they don’t allow the England international the chance to whip in his pin-point crosses.
Alexander-Arnold made an impressive 25 assists across the last two Premier League seasons
Centre-back
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Liverpool’s defensive rock and 2019 Ballon d’Or runner-up, Van Dijk has proven time and time again why Klopp splashed £75million to bring him to Anfield.
Rarely does the Dutchman make a costly error, something that sets him apart from those likely to be starting in the centre of Arsenal’s defence on Saturday.
Liverpool’s defensive rock has regularly shown why Jurgen Klopp splashed £75million on him
Centre-back
Joe Gomez (Liverpool)
After starting the 2019-2020 season behind Joel Matip in the pecking order, Gomez has claimed the regular defensive spot alongside Van Dijk and looks more assured with every performance.
There’s still room for improvement but at the age of 23, the defender looks to have a bright future ahead of him.
Joe Gomez has made huge improvements to earn a regular defensive spot alongside Van Dijk
Left-back
Andy Robertson (Liverpool)
The Liverpool man edges the battle of the Scottish left-backs.
Much like his full-back partner Alexander-Arnold, Robertson is a huge threat going forward with 23 assists across his last two Premier League seasons.
Arsenal’s Tierney would probably walk into most defences but, as he has found at international level, Robertson is just slightly ahead of him. There’s every chance that in a couple of years the former Celtic man will be rivalling his Scottish compatriot.
Andy Robertson edges the battle of the Scottish left-backs with his impressive assist record
Midfield
Granit Xhaka (Arsenal)
With his Arsenal future up in the air in October 2019, Xhaka would have been nowhere near a combined XI of both teams.
But the midfielder has made huge improvements since Mikel Arteta’s appointment and has shown his value in the heart of the Gunners’ midfield – and he will need to be at his best against the Reds now Dani Ceballos has returned to Real Madrid.
With Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson sidelined through injury, Xhaka gets the nod.
Granit Xhaka has become an important player for the Gunners since Mikel Arteta’s arrival
Midfield
Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool)
There’s a reason why Ronald Koeman wants Wijnaldum at Barcelona.
No other Liverpool midfielder played more minutes during the 2019-20 season than the Dutchman who has become a reliable figure for Klopp’s side.
With Henderson unavailable, Wijnaldum will have an even more important role to play at Wembley.
Georginio Wijnaldum played more minutes than any Reds midfielder in the 2019-20 season
Midfield
Fabinho (Liverpool)
Another of Klopp’s reliable midfield players who was influential in the title campaign.
The 26-year-old had a strong end to the season but he’ll have to be sharper than he was in the friendly against RB Salzburg on Tuesday.
Had Ceballos still been in Arsenal colours he may have got the nod ahead of the Brazilian.
The defensive midfielder was another key player in Liverpool’s title-winning campaign
Attack
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
The Egyptian would walk into any team in Europe.
The winger was overlooked in the nominations for Premier League Player of the Year despite managing 19 goals and 10 assists last season.
The 28-year-old has six goals and four assists in seven appearances against the Gunners and will be looking to add to that.
Mohamed Salah scored 19 goals and made 10 assists during another impressive season
Attack
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal)
Arsenal’s main man and one of the league’s best strikers, Aubameyang stole the show at Wembley earlier this month and Arteta will be hoping for another masterclass against Liverpool.
The captain is close to signing a new three-year deal at the Emirates and is vital to the club’s plans to challenge for the top four next season.
He will give the Reds defence a lot to think about.
Arsenal’s main man was the match-winner at Wembley in the FA Cup final earlier this month
Attack
Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
Mane was named PFA Fans’ Player of the Year after producing in big moments for Liverpool last season with 18 goals and seven assists.
It’s not just fans who admire the forward – Mane was Lionel Messi’s pick for the 2019 Ballon d’Or… and he’s well loved by former Red and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher.
Sadio Mane gained many admirers with his impressive performances including Lionel Messi
