Liverpool have a job to do on Thursday night as LASK head to Anfield for the final home game of the Europa League group stage.
The Reds will be looking to right the wrongs of the last matchday’s 3-2 loss against Toulouse, with a win sealing their progression and perhaps top spot. Here’s the much changed XI we expect Jurgen Klopp to field.
Defence
Even without injury to Alisson Becker on Saturday, Caoimhin Kelleher would always have been starting this one. It’s his competition. Alisson’s setback will mean some extra scrutiny on the Irishman’s performance, though.
In-front of Kelleher, we expect to see a completely changed defence from the draw against Manchester City. Having remained on the bench at the Etihad, both Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate should come back in at right-back at centre-back respectively, with Jarell Quansah partnering Konate in the middle.
With Andy Robertson still injured, we predict that Klopp will hand a second start to 19-year-old Luke Chambers. The youngster has a golden chance to live up to his ‘fantastic’ billing.
Midfield
Klopp’s midfield selection will tell us a little bit about where his head is currently at in regards to more ‘important’ games.
Having seen Curtis Jones fail to grasp his chance with a start at City, Ryan Gravenberch may feel he should now be in the Premier League XI. Who the manager picks here could indicate who he fancies more for Sunday’s game with Fulham.
In the end though, we actually think Jurgen will pick both players. With Wataru Endo sitting in-between them, we think both Jones and Gravenberch will get the chance to audition simultaneously for Sunday.
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Attack
Tomorrow’s forward line is a little bit difficult to predict. But given that he limped off on Saturday, we don’t expect to see Diogo Jota for this one.
Having also played virtually the full game against City, we think Darwin Nunez will be rested, too.
As a result, it would seem clear that both Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo should return to the line-up.
Having arguably dropped out of Klopp’s best XI at the moment, both should be hungry to prove a point against LASK.
We expect that another man with limited time in the starting line-up this season – Harvey Elliott – will complete the team. However, with Liverpool in need of a no-nonsense win, you can never be sure exactly how Klopp will use Mohamed Salah. Tomorrow, from the bench would be our guess.
Liverpool’s predicted line-up vs LASK: Kelleher; Gomez, Konate, Quansah, Chambers; Endo, Jones, Gravenberch; Elliott, Gakpo, Diaz