With Jordan Henderson, Jon Flanagan, Roberto Firmino, Christian Benteke, Danny Ings, Joe Gomez, Jordan Rossiter and Daniel Sturridge out (that’s eight players), Jurgen Klopp has few options for his first game in charge at Anfield.
His only real selection dilemma lies with the goalkeeper and central defence – depending on whether he goes with his first-choice or rotates Mignolet/Skrtel/Sakho for Bogdan/Toure/Lovren.
We’ve included our predicted side and thoughts as to why below:
GK) Simon Mignolet
Adam Bogdan will be clucking for a game, but surely the new manager will want to pick his best defensive back-line and hone it. This back five kept a clean-sheet versus Tottenham, and while it’d be nice to rest the fullbacks, injuries to Joe Gomez and Jon Flanagan make it pretty difficult.
DR) Nathaniel Clyne
Clyne’s the only option really, unless Klopp decides to use Emre Can at right-back. That will surely only happen if the summer signing from Southampton picks up an injury, however.
DL) Alberto Moreno
Jose Enrique didn’t make the bench versus Spurs, so we can’t imagine he’ll be brought back into the fold yet.
DC) Martin Skrtel
Skrtel and Sakho haven’t had much practice together in a flat back-four this season due to Rodgers originally favouring Dejan Lovren, and only picking Sakho in the wing-back tactic. So it makes sense for Skrtel and Sakho to continue, looking for a consecutive clean-sheet.
DC) Mamadou Sakho
Liverpool’s best defender this season by a country mile, Sakho should be the first centre-back on the team-sheet – and Klopp should build his back-four around the powerful 25-year-old.
MC) Joe Allen
Emre Can has been practically ever present this term and it’d be a good chance to bring in Allen for a test under the new boss instead. Hopefully he’ll do better than he did against FC Sion last time out in Europe.
MC) Lucas
With Jordan Henderson out, the Brazilian may continue to anchor the side in a midfield pivot.
AMC) Adam Lallana
Lallana’s been our European shining light so far, bagging in both fixtures. Due to injuries he’ll surely get a start once again, and he could be given a pivotal no.10 role if Coutinho starts from the bench.
AMR) James Milner
The stand-in skipper will surely continue, either on the right or as part of midfield three with Lucas and Allen. Because we’re at home to a poor side, we reckon Klopp’ll go with his favourite 4-2-3-1, meaning Milner can prove his worth on the right.
AML) Jordon Ibe
Ibe played a few minutes against Spurs but should get a start in Europe, allowing Coutinho a rest. The Brazilian missed the international break recently and there’s surely no point risking him.
FC) Divock Origi
With Danny Ings, Roberto Firmino, Christian Benteke and Daniel Sturridge out, obviously Origi will get another chance!
