Liverpool return to Champions League action tomorrow for the first time since losing last season’s final.
Naples is the destination as The Reds look to banish memories of their defeat to Real Madrid in May.
Liverpool have struggled to get their domestic campaign up and running in the manner they’d have expected. In spite of that, they’ll still have high expectations for their European adventures.
Jurgen Klopp has one or two returning faces for this one. As a result, there are a couple of big decisions for the manager to make. Here’s the XI we’ll think he’ll go with to face Napoli.
Defence
Choosing the goalkeeper is as straightforward as a decision could be. Alisson Becker had his best game of the season on Saturday and will be looking for back-to-back clean sheets tomorrow.
In-front of Alisson, things are less certain. But having been taken off for the second game in a row at the weekend, Trent Alexander-Arnold has perhaps been saving his energy for this one.
At centre-back is where the first change of the day comes. Joe Gomez has done well this season and was arguably Liverpool’s best player against Everton.
With his injury record though, Gomez shouldn’t be asked to play every game. Joel Matip and returns to the Liverpool line-up here. Virgil Van Dijk will be pleased – he called Matip’s performances last season ‘amazing’ via BT Sport. They’ll make up Liverpool’s back two in Naples.
Having only played a portion of the game on Saturday, Andy Robertson should return, too.
Midfield
The make-up of Liverpool’s midfield has been the cause of much hand-wringing amongst supporters recently. That will be eased thanks to the return of the mercurial Thiago Alcantara, but he’s unlikely to start here.
Instead, it looks as though James Milner will be asked to go again. Joining him is likely to be Harvey Elliott, who has been one of Liverpool’s best players this season.
Filling the final slot should be Fabinho, who is usually needed in atmospheres like the one expected at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
There’s a pretty strong argument that Arthur Melo should be handed his Liverpool debut here. But after just one or two training sessions, it might be better to save him for Wolves this weekend.
Attack
Unlike recent weeks, Klopp now has options in his attack once again. With Diogo Jota fit and Darwin Nunez back from suspension, the manager could field all five of his forwards against Everton. Frustratingly though, none of them managed to find the net.
Despite that, we expect the Liverpool boss to go unchanged to face Napoli.
That means that Mohamed Salah will continue on the right as he looks to recapture his early form last season. Luis Diaz will once again play down the left and Nunez through the middle.
Should Liverpool prove equally goal-shy against their Italian opponents, expect to see both Jota and Roberto Firmino at some stage, too.
Liverpool’s predicted XI vs Napoli: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk; Fabinho, Elliott, Milner; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
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