Lucas Leiva returns to the Liverpool starting XI for the opening Barclays Premier League fixture of the 2014-15 campaign, against Southampton at Anfield today.

The Brazilian is included alongside captain Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson in midfield, while Brendan Rodgers maintains the same front three that starred against Borussia Dortmund last Sunday.

Defenders Dejan Lovren and Javier Manquillo are selected for their competitive debuts after featuring in the friendly on home soil seven days ago.

Liverpool XI in full: Mignolet, Manquillo, Johnson, Skrtel, Lovren, Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson, Coutinho, Sterling, Sturridge.

Substitutes: Jones, Toure, Sakho, Allen, Ibe, Can, Lambert.