Picking the XI v FC Porto; Klopp will ring multiple changes despite comments

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Jurgen Klopp today told the media that he’s not planning to ‘rest’ any players for the FC Porto match, but frankly, we don’t believe him!

What the manager is actually saying is that he’s not ‘resting’ anybody because the replacements who will come in are more than capable of holding their own.

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Klopp makes odd claim about XI v FC Porto, but we’re not buying it….

“Arsenal for example, that’s so unfair,” he began… “They were through in the tie and had a final on Sunday yet I only hear after the game things like, ‘wow that was embarrassing against a Swedish team’. But they are through in the tie and played a final on Sunday.

“That’s the situation. We play Man United, we will not rest anybody. We will play a strong side against Porto and a strong side against United.”

Based on Klopp’s comments, the current injury and form situation, we think he’ll pick a similar side against Newcastle on Saturday as he will against Manchester United the following weekend – mixing up the lineup in the Champions League midweek.

Possible XI V Newcastle: Karius; Trent, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Can, Milner, Ox; Salah, Mane, Firmino

Possible XI V FC Porto: Karius; Clyne, Lovren, Gomez, Moreno; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Ox; Lallana, Woodburn, Solanke

We’re not sure Loris Karius needs to come out, as what he actually requires is game-time. But apart from the keeper, we’re predicting wholesale changes. The defence and midfield doesn’t drop very much in terms of quality, actually, but the front-three without our superstars looks much, much weaker.

Still, it will be fantastic to see Clyne and Lallana back from the outset, while it would be equally nice to see if Solanke or Ings can score their first goals of the season.

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