This season, manager’s Premier League starting lineups have been largely influenced by who has played in the preceding midweek fixture.
The match against Arsenal should be no different with Liverpool likely to make at least four changes to the League Cup XI.
Here’s how Liverpool could line up.
Team news
Here’s what Klopp revealed in his press conference:
Saturday’s selection is made far easier by looking at the team that started against West Ham on Wednesday.
We can expect key names, such as Mo Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson, to come back back in, as Caoimhin Kelleher, Joe Gomez and Harvey Elliott drop out.
The big decisions come on the left, with Curtis Jones and Gravenberch vying for a midfield slot.
In attack, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez have two spots to play for. With the former only a substitute vs. West Ham, we’d expect Diaz to play.
That potentially leaves Gakpo to play through the middle, with Nunez currently misfiring.
There is the possibility that, in Mac Allister’s absence, Klopp decides to set up Liverpool like he did against West Ham.
Wednesday saw the Reds start in a system closer to how they played in the years prior to Nunez’s arrival, but now with Gakpo taking Roberto Firmino‘s role.
We’ve also seen Klopp begin to move Alexander-Arnold into a proper midfield position when Liverpool have been trailing, and Gomez’s strong right-back showings could influence Klopp’s mind into taking the plunge.
Whatever side Klopp decides to go with, Anfield should be well up for this one and push Arsenal back from the first minute.
It will then be up to the players to prevent them from growing into the game and being able to show their quality.
