Liverpool go in search of back-to-back Premier League wins at Anfield on Sunday, with Nottingham Forest the visitors.
With eight changes being made for Thursday’s thrashing of Toulouse, Jurgen Klopp is set to shuffle his pack again. Here’s the XI we expect the Liverpool manager to put out.
Defence
Having recovered from injury, Caoimhin Kelleher got some much needed minutes mid-week. But there’s no chance of him replacing Alisson Becker for this one.
One of those who will keep his place is Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was perhaps a surprise starter in the Europa League.
At centre-back, Klopp has a little decision to make. But having left Ibrahima Konate out of the squad entirely on Thursday, we think the Frenchman will return here. Konate struggled against the physical Taiwo Awoniyi in this fixture last season. In the words of ESPN‘s Frank Leboeuf though, he has generally been ‘exceptional’ over the past two years. He’s still in Liverpool’s best XI.
So is captain Virgil van Dijk, who will partner Ibou. At left-back, it would be a big surprise not to see Kostas Tsimikas return.
Midfield
Given that Curtis Jones is serving the final game of his suspension here, Klopp’s options for midfield are slightly more straightforward.
Both Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai sat out of Thursday’s win and are sure to come back.
Elsewhere, it seems to be a toss up between Ryan Gravenberch and Jones for the final slot. With the Scouser suspended though, Gravenberch should get the nod. He’d deserve it too, he was brilliant against Toulouse.
Attack
Up-front is usually the trickiest position for Klopp to pick and that’s no different for this one.
After three of the four attackers to feature for Liverpool on Thursday scored, they’re mostly in good form. The one who isn’t is arguably Luis Diaz, but he should be fresh and will return tomorrow.
Mohamed Salah is course a definite to play, while we think Klopp will reward the brilliance of Darwin Nunez with another start.
After scoring and playing well on Thursday, Diogo Jota is unlucky to miss out. The £45m man has a great record against Forest, too. But with Cody Gakpo also available from the bench, both will probably get on at some point during the afternoon.
Liverpool’s predicted XI vs Nottingham Forest: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
