Confirmed Liverpool lineup & reaction as Klopp surprises vs Manchester United

Add as preferred source on Google

Here’s the confirmed Liverpool lineup to face Manchester United at Old Trafford today. The Reds compete in one of the biggest games of their season.

Liverpool go into this one knowing that a win would be a massive title statement. It would also dramatically increase pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and continue Manchester United’s poor form – that’s always fun.

But against a selection of world-class attackers, Jurgen Klopp has some difficult decisions to make. Can he risk being very attacking? And can Liverpool expect to dominate possession here?

The latter is arguably the biggest question. Solskjaer hasn’t been shy about defending deep and playing on the counter-attack against Liverpool – even at Old Trafford.

That may prompt Liverpool to play a possession-heavy team. But Klopp also can’t afford to get that decision wrong if United decide to go for it.

So with all of that in mind, let’s see what Klopp’s gone for.

Confirmed Liverpool lineup vs Manchester United

Alisson

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Ibrahima Konate

Virgil van Dijk

Andy Robertson

Jordan Henderson

Naby Keita

James Milner

Mohamed Salah

Roberto Firmino

Diogo Jota

Alisson
Trent Alexander-Arnold – Konate – Van Dijk – Robertson
Henderson
Milner – Keita
Salah – Firmino – Jota

We never, ever saw Konate getting a start here. Matip was the clear favourite to retain his place, while Joe Gomez seemed like a possibility.

Konate? This is by far the biggest game of his Liverpool career. What a show of faith from Klopp that is.

Then we’ve got two more surprises. The first is in midfield as Fabinho misses the game with a knock. It means the same midfield kicks-off for the third consecutive game.

Up top, too, we’ve got a surprise. Sadio Mane starts on the bench, with both Firmino and Jota starting alongside Salah.

Reaction

Understandably, reaction to the lineup was mostly shock. It’s certainly created a few nerves among fans, too.

This is obviously an XI to split opinion. Klopp is taking some risks and doing it in one of the biggest games this season.

Win and he looks like a genius. Lose and you can bet there will be questions.