How the Reds must line up in the Merseyside derby

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Anfield is ready for the 232nd Merseyside derby – but with Liverpool needing to bounce back from midweek defeat to PSG, how should Jurgen Klopp line his players up?

At the back, Alisson Becker is a certainty between the sticks, while Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk are equally nailed on to start the game.

Joe Gomez played right-back midweek, but Trent Alexander-Arnold simply has to start with Gomez moving inside and Dejan Lovren dropping out.

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The Scouser can bring an attacking edge to the Reds and inject passion onto the field. If he does start, he might well be the only local player on the pitch such is the shortage of Scouse voices across both sides.

Liverpool’s front three picks itself, with Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah all surely in line to start the game, but it is in midfield where there is a real dilemma.

With Jordan Henderson suspended, James Milner is likely to begin the game as vice-captain, but we’d like to see Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri from the start.

Shaqiri could start on the right of a three behind Salah, backed up by Keita and Milner. The 4-2-3-1 setup is one prefered by Klopp at Anfield in recent times.

Fabinho can count himself unfortunate if he doesn’t get a look in, but in a game of this magnitude and speed, it might not be the best place to throw him in.

Gini Wijnaldum, too, might have expected to play, but he has not been at it for the last couple of weeks and might be glad of the rest.

Whoever the Reds pick, play well and they will win the game.

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