Saturday sees Liverpool take on Southampton in their final game before the World Cup break.
Right from the start of the campaign, this has looked like being a natural point to check the pulse of the season so far.
In Liverpool’s case, it was feared to have been dead on arrival. But in recent weeks, the Reds season has started to show some signs of life.
If they can polish that off with a win at Anfield tomorrow, fans will be positive heading into the break. But if we see another performance like the one at Leeds two weeks ago, despair will linger for six weeks or so.
It’s a big game for Liverpool, no doubt about that. With seven players bound for Qatar, there may be distraction within the ranks. That can’t be allowed to creep in. Here’s how we think they’ll line up.
Defence
One of those who’ll harbour dreams of lifting the World Cup next month, Alisson Becker first has a job to do here. Excellent so far this season, hopefully he’ll be needed a little less tomorrow.
In-front of Alisson will be a back-line who will be desperate to avoid injury. Of the seven players to have earned a call-up for their national side, four of them should make up the Reds back-line.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate may have to make do with bit-part roles for their country’s, but they are still so important to Liverpool.
Konate in particular has been brilliant recently. Jurgen Klopp thinks so too, calling the Frenchman ‘outstanding’ via liverpoolfc.com after last week’s win at Spurs.
Virgil Van Dijk has played a little like he’s been trying to avoid injury all season to be honest. He’ll have the last game to navigate through against his old club tomorrow. Andy Robertson is the odd one out and, as ever, won’t hold back.
Midfield
Klopp has tried to balance Liverpool’s midfield over the last month or so, regularly rotating three players in the main.
Tomorrow, we think he’ll go with the on-paper brilliant duo of Thiago Alcantara and Fabinho. Thiago hasn’t been selected for Spain and as a result should play whenever possible. Fabinho meanwhile has started to play himself back into form.
Attack
Liverpool’s team this season has fluctuated between shape and style so regularly that it’s sometimes difficult to know who’s playing where.
But for the sake of argument, we’re having Klopp nominally going with four forwards in this must-win game. One of those will be a hybrid midfielder though, as Harvey Elliott shuttles around the right-side of the pitch.
In-front of, but also kind of to the side, of him will be Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian is in devastating form and will hopefully be in the mood to make a point ahead of a World Cup he won’t feature in.
Another looking to make a point will be Roberto Firmino, who’s attention must now turn to winning a new contract at Liverpool.
Polishing off the team will be Darwin Nunez. The 23-year-old has spent a lot of time on the left-wing recently, and, although it isn’t his best position, we think that’s where he’ll be tomorrow. Come on Liverpool.
Liverpool’s predicted XI vs Southampton: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Thiago; Elliott, Salah, Firmino, Nunez
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
