There’s no let-up for Liverpool as they begin 2023 with a tricky looking visit to Brentford tomorrow evening.
The Reds are somehow looking for their fifth Premier League win in succession against an in-form Bees side.
With their top-four rivals playing on Tuesday and Wednesday, Liverpool can lay down a New Year’s marker with a win in West London.
But it won’t be straight forward. Friday’s victory over Leicester City was far from convincing and we think Jurgen Klopp will ring the changes for this one. Here’s what we think the boss has in mind for the Monday night fixture.
Defence
No change in goal as Alisson Becker continues his 100% appearance record for the Premier League season. In-front of him should be Trent Alexander-Arnold who was one of the standout performers from Friday’s win.
At centre-back Virgil van Dijk will join Alisson having started every one of Liverpool’s 17 games so far. But alongside the Dutchman is where the first change should be made. Ibrahima Konate is back from World Cup duty and should slot in next to Virgil.
There’s another change at left-back, as the potentially injured Andy Robertson makes way for Kostas Tsimikas.
Midfield
The midfield is where Klopp should really start to wield the axe from the mess we saw against Leicester.
The only one of Friday’s trio to emerge with any credit, Thiago Alcantara should keep his place here. But beyond that, both Jordan Henderson and Harvey Elliott deserve to be dropped for extremely sloppy displays.
In their places should come Fabinho, who’s wife Rebeca gave birth on Friday – congrats Fab! – and the fit-again Naby Keita. A start would be the £48m man’s first of the season as he gives his Reds career one last go.
Attack
Predicting Liverpool’s attack is a little more straight-forward with various options still unavailable for selection.
Both Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez have to start and will looking for better composure in-front of goal tomorrow.
The left-sided slot is the one up for debate. Klopp could opt to stick Fabio Carvalho in after a couple of turns on the bench, and Cody Gakpo may, in theory, be available.
However, we see no real reason to change from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Ox hasn’t been especially standout in the last two games, but he’s done his job to reasonable effect. With a lack of top quality alternatives, we think he’ll get the nod again.
Liverpool’s predicted XI vs Brentford: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Fabinho, Keita, Thiago; Salah, Nunez, Oxlade-Chamberlain
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