Jurgen Klopp searches for answer to lingering Liverpool question in pre-season

Over the last three years, the core of Liverpool's first-choice starting XI has virtually remained the same.

Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Virgil van Djik, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Mohamed Salah have all been regulars in Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool side for a number of seasons. Sadio Mane was a mainstay on the wing or through the middle, but he has decided to move on to pastures new and sign for Bayern Munich.

Those seven named are expected to start Liverpool's opening day fixture at Fulham if they are fit and available, leaving four positions up for grabs. Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota are set to battle it out for the central striker berth with Luis Diaz out on the left, while it could be a two-way fight for the final midfielder slot with Harvey Elliot and Naby Keita both in contention to play.

However, a position that has plenty of competition in is the second centre-back role alongside Van Djik. Liverpool arguably have three excellent players to chose from in that area and Klopp has a tricky decision on his hands about who to start for their trip to Craven Cottage, although all three will no doubt play their part throughout the season.

Joel Matip was Klopp's first choice in the Premier League, starting 31 times and scoring three goals. He also chipped in with three assists and was vital in the Reds' long unbeaten run during the second half of the season - which stretched all the way from the 1-0 defeat at Leicester City in December up until the end of the campaign.

Meanwhile, Ibrahima Konate shone in the Champions League, especially in the knockout stages when he was given his chance in the side. He came in for the 2-0 victory over Porto and started in all but one of their European matches from there on in, including the final against Real Madrid.

The other elite centre-back who will no doubt be pushing for a first-team spot is Joe Gomez, with the Englishman starting just 10 times in all competitions. Considering the Reds played in every possible game last term - 62 in total - that is a small amount for a player of Gomez's qualities and capabilities.

Despite that lack of game time, Gomez committed his long-term future to Liverpool by signing a new five-year contract to keep him at the club until 2027. Klopp was quick to praise the 25-year-old after penning that deal, hinting he is firmly in his plans ahead of the new campaign.

Who should Jurgen Klopp partner alongside Virgil van Djik for the trip to Fulham on August 6? Let us know in the comments below!

He said: "One of the many wonderful things about Joe is he has experience and youth - that's not a bad combination. He has not long turned 25 but he was at the club before I was and I think after Hendo and Millie he is our longest-serving player. Incredible.

"But the best thing of all is that his best years are still to come and I could not be happier that this will happen with us. In terms of right now, Joe is in phenomenal shape. We had a few weeks off and when I returned to AXA I saw him and my first thought was 'Wow!' Physically, he is in such a good place and now all he needs is a good pre-season and the rhythm that comes from this."

However, with Matip and Konate also in top shape, Gomez could find his game time hard to come by once again this season. There has been hints that Klopp could adopt a back-three with Gomez or Konate on the right side to cover Alexander-Arnold when he goes forward with Matip and Van Djik alongside them.

This is another option for Klopp, but it is more likely that he will stick to the 4-3-3 shape, leaving just one place with Van Djik set to start in almost every game. Gomez, in particular, was the one to suffer most last term and even came in at right-back in Alexander-Arnold's absence when he was either injured or unfit.

Klopp will get to see his side in action for the first time since the Champions League final when they take on Manchester United in a pre-season friendly in Bangkok. With Van Djik only returning to training for the tour of Thailand, the German could explore and try out a number of different combinations at centre-back.

Nat Phillips, Sepp van den Berg and Rhys Williams have also travelled for the pre-season training camp but the trip are not expected to be in Klopp's first team plans for the new season. Even if Liverpool suffer another injury crisis like the 2020/21 campaign, those three players are adequate replacements to come in.

The Reds also face Crystal Palace, RB Leipzig and RB Salzburg before the Community Shield against Manchester City at the end of the month. Another friendly against Strasbourg has been pencilled in on July 31 for those fringe players to get important game time ahead of the new season. All eyes will be on Klopp throughout these next few weeks on who he is likely to be first-choice at the back - an intriguing battle indeed.