Following the Leicester performance which saw Liverpool lose 2-0 and fail to trouble Kasper Schmeichel even once, we think Jurgen Klopp will make some changes to his starting XI.
If he doesn’t, we’ll be disappointed actually, given the staleness of our recent performances.
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We predict Klopp will stick with Simon Mignolet on goal, Nathaniel Clyne at right-back, Dejan Lovren and Mamadou Sakho at centre-back, but take Alberto Moreno out of the firing line. This is a bold claim, but the Spaniard’s been very poor recently and Jon Flanagan is fit and ready to participate.
Flanagan doesn’t possess Moreno’s speed but he gets forward more than he’s given credit for, and manages to recycle possession in the final third.
In midfield, we reckon there’ll be two changes, with Joe Allen finally entering the fray for a Premier League match. Under Jurgen Klopp, he’s started just one of them all campaign, but the manager indicated he’s ‘very close’ to being ready – despite picking up a minor shoulder problem last time out off the bench.
Emre Can has been poor recently and for us, needs to come a break. Jordan Henderson has looked really unfit and we wouldn’t be surprised if he started on the bench and James Milner was brought back into the midfield three alongside Lucas. If this occurs, Milner will wear the armband in his preferred position.
This enables a free spot out wide which Jordon Ibe can take, injecting speed and dynamism into the side. Adam Lallana will keep his space, as will Roberto Firmino – with Klopp clearly not a fan of Christian Benteke right now.
This team has more creativity and passing in midfield with the introduction of Allen, and more speed and counter-attacking threat with Ibe on one of the flanks.
Make it happen, Jurgen!
