Liverpool will still be without some of their key players when they face Manchester United today.
The Reds take on their bitter rivals at Anfield in a huge Premier League clash this afternoon (4.30pm kick-off). Liverpool are looking to close the gap on the top four with victory over Man United, who arrive on Merseyside on the back of a winning the Carabao Cup and progressing to the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp will be forced to deal with several of his players being ruled out. Thiago Alcantara, Joe Gomez, Luis Diaz and Calvin Ramsay are all sidelined by injury.
Diogo Jota and Virgil van Dijk were not pictured taking part in training on Friday, but it’s not clear whether the duo were undergoing their own individual programmes or are doubts for today’s match. Klopp said in his press conference beforehand that he did not expect to have any fresh injury concerns.
Naby Keita returned to training on Friday, after missing the midweek win over Wolves. Klopp will hope to have the midfielder available for this afternoon’s fixture.
Here is a look at Liverpool’s expected squad to be available to face Man United, barring any late injury issues.
Goalkeepers: Adrian, Alisson, Caoimhin Kelleher.
Defenders: Andy Robertson, Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate, Kostas Tsimikas, Nat Phillips, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk.
Midfielders: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arthur Melo, Curtis Jones, Fabinho, Fabio Carvalho, Harvey Elliott, James Milner, Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, Stefan Bajcetic.
Forwards: Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nun ez, Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah.
Sidelined: Joe Gomez, Luis Diaz (knee), Calvin Ramsay (knee), Thiago Alcantara (hip).
Liverpool predicted line-up for Manchester United as Jurgen Klopp makes two huge calls
Liverpool have an extra incentive – not that they needed it – to get one over their old foes Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.
Beating the Red Devils is gratifying for Jurgen Klopp’s side any day of the week, but after Newcastle United were taken down 2-0 at Manchester City on Saturday, and Tottenham Hotspur lost 1-0 at Wolves, the stakes have been raised.
A home victory for the Reds on Sunday will move them up to fifth in the table, just one spot outside the Champions League qualification positions and within three points of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who will have played one match more. With that in mind, what sort of team should the German be looking to put out against Erik ten Hag’s high-flying Red Devils on Sunday?
Here’s the team that the is predicted to start for Liverpool tomorrow.
Liverpool have an extra incentive – not that they needed it – to get one over their old foes Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.
Beating the Red Devils is gratifying for Jurgen Klopp’s side any day of the week, but after Newcastle United were taken down 2-0 at Manchester City on Saturday, and Tottenham Hotspur lost 1-0 at Wolves, the stakes have been raised.
A home victory for the Reds on Sunday will move them up to fifth in the table, just one spot outside the Champions League qualification positions and within three points of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who will have played one match more. With that in mind, what sort of team should the German be looking to put out against Erik ten Hag’s high-flying Red Devils on Sunday?
Defence
The Reds have kept four clean sheets on the run in the Premier League, so continuity is the key here. With Alisson in goal, Trent Alexander-Arnold continues at right-back, with the reunited partnership of Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk alongside him. Handling the pace and trickery of in-form Marcus Rashford will be key and those three have the tools in their box to try to nullify his threat.
Kostas Tsimikas took his chance and then some against Wolves in the midweek victory at Anfield and therefore deserves to retain his place ahead of Andy Robertson. It’s a big call for Klopp but probably the right one.
Midfield
In midfield, Liverpool looked fluid and reasonably comfortable against Julen Lopetegui’s side on Wednesday, but facing Manchester United is a much tougher examination.
With Fabinho looking a bit more like his old self, the Brazilian continues in the engine room alongside the fresh energy of Stefan Bajcetic, but with the desire for a bit more big-match experience to balance things out, captain Jordan Henderson returns with Harvey Elliott dropping back to the bench, with a second-half appearance at some point more than likely.
Attack
Up top, Klopp has suddenly got plenty of options as all of his forwards bar Luis Diaz are available to chose from. The Reds looked dangerous against Wolves and it would be tempting to stick with the same trio that started the match, but Diogo Jota is still working his way back to full-match fitness and two games in a week might reduce his sharpness.
For that reason only, Roberto Firmino gets a final start in his Liverpool career against Manchester United in the centre of the front three, flanked by the rapidly developing Darwin Nunez on the left and Mohamed Salah on the right.
Liverpool predicted starting XI for Manchester United: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Fabinho, Bajcetic, Henderson; Salah, Firmino, Nunez