Liverpool’s likely XI v Arsenal: Fabinho starts, Gomez to get nod at CB

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We think Liverpool’s starting XI for the crunch clash with Arsenal this Saturday practically picks itself…

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With Naby Keita and Jordan Henderson not yet in full first-team training, Jurgen Klopp will surely stick with the two midfielders that have done so well in our past two games: Fabinho and Gini Wijnaldum.

But because we’re away to a side that have won 12 of their past 13 matches and drawn the other, James Milner will surely come in to a central three and provide us work-rate, energy and legs, with Xherdan Shaqiri a more creative option from the bench.

If we need to change from the 4-3-3 to the more dangerous 4-2-3-1 in the second-half, we can.

Up top, Sadio Mane and Mo Salah will flank Roberto Firmino, although positionally they’ll be very fluid and you shouldn’t be surprised if the Egyptian is central more than Bobby on occasions.

At the back, there’s only one question: whether Klopp will go with Dejan Lovren or Joe Gomez alongside Virgil van Dijk.

For us, Gomez’s extra pace makes him the smart option, as Arsenal attack with speedy forwards who love getting in behind a defence. This means Trent Alexander-Arnold should play right-back, with Andy Robertson obviously starting ahead of Alberto Moreno on the other flank.

Alisson guards our net and will likely have more to do than he did against Huddersfield, Red Star or Cardiff.

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