Jürgen Klopp has confirmed his Liverpool team to take on Brentford this afternoon at Anfield. The Reds will be looking to get back to winning ways after a week which saw them drop points in both the Premier League and Europa League.
As expected, the Liverpool boss has made several changes to his side following the 3-2 defeat in Toulouse on Thursday. There are seven adjustments in total, with one or two surprise in the side.
Kostas Tsimikas gets the nod over Joe Gomez at left-back, while Wataru Endō retains his place in midfield as he deputizes for the suspended Alexis Mac Allister. Cody Gakpo is also given a surprise start, with the Dutchman likely to be placed alongside Dominik Szoboszlai in one of the advanced midfield roles.
Joël Matip keeps his place in the side from midweek as he partners Virgil van Dijk in defense. Meanwhile, Darwin Núñez starts up front, with Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah either side of him.
Liverpool team vs Brentford: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Endō, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Salah, Núñez, Jota.
Liverpool has not had the best week in terms of either results or performances and needs to get back on track quickly. With the international break beginning after today’s game, and with Manchester City just around the corner, the Reds must get back to winning ways today.
Ahead of today’s game, three of our writers had their say on who they though Klopp should have picked to take on Brentford. These are the teams that some of our Liverpool.com writers selected, and you can see how they compare with the Liverpool boss’ XI.
James Findlater – Difficult decisions
It is very difficult to pick a team this weekend, and unfortunately not for all the right reasons. Alexis Mac Allister’s suspension complicates matters in midfield, especially if Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch are out injured.
I have to admit, I’m not entirely comfortable with the idea of Wataru Endō starting in the Premier League, given he hasn’t exactly looked the most mobile in his performances so far. Needs must though, and he’ll likely start alongside Dominik Szoboszlai and Harvey Elliott in the middle.
Joe Gomez gets the nod at left-back for me. Like Endō, Kostas Tsimikas just hasn’t convinced me, and if the plan is for Gomez to play against Manchester City, then he needs to get more minutes in the position.
The frontline isn’t an easy decision either. After all his good work so far this season, we saw why Darwin Núñez is still a while off being the finished article at Luton. Given Cody Gakpo didn’t exactly impress in midweek though, the Uruguayan retains his place, and after what must have been an emotionally draining couple of weeks for Luis Díaz, I’d expect Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah to start on either side.
My starting XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Gomez; Endō, Szoboszlai, Elliott; Salah, Núñez, Jota
David Comerford – Endō gets the nod
The only real decision to make when it comes to the back five concerns the left-back position, and after Tsimikas’ error against Toulouse, I’d go for Gomez once again. His aerial numbers have been excellent this season, and that could be very important against one of the most direct teams in the league.
I’ve toyed with the idea of using Szoboszlai as the six in this game after Endō did his best to blow his chance at replacing the injured Mac Allister, but because of the shortage of available number eights, I ultimately think he has to start further forward, with the Japan captain slotting in behind him. Elliott completes the midfield.
As for the frontline, Gakpo hasn’t played well enough yet to dislogdge Núñez, while I’d lean towards Jota over Díaz, in the knowledge that the latter can impact the game off the bench if needed, as we saw against Luton last weekend.
My starting XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Gomez; Endō, Szoboszlai, Elliott; Salah, Núñez, Jota.
Predicted scoreline: 2-1 to Liverpool.
One thing to watch: Can Darwin Núñez respond after last week’s horror miss?
Andrew Beasley – Team largely picks itself
History shows that Liverpool struggles to get results once the injury list ticks past a handful of players. Brentford is a hard nut to crack at the best of times so this match will be a severe test with the treatment room as crowded it is.
But there are reasons for optimism. Jürgen Klopp should be able to field Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil van Dijk, his most used center-back pairing this season and a duo that helped keep clean sheets in recent home matches with Everton and Nottingham Forest.
The midfield offers far greater cause for concern yet there is clarity too. With the players who are injured or suspended, the trio selects itself, unless Klopp gives Trent Alexander-Arnold a start in the center of the team.
All five senior options are available up front. Mohamed Salah will become just the third player in Premier League history to score or assist in 15 consecutive home matches should he make a goal contribution against the Bees. It would be foolish to bet against him doing so.
