Liverpool head to Toulouse on Thursday with the chance to qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League.
The Reds have been perfect so far, winning three out of three and putting themselves in a great position. With another Premier League game to come on Sunday, here’s the XI we think Jurgen Klopp will send out in France.
Defence
Caoimhin Kelleher has spoken this week of how he’s feeling better this season, having had a run of games in this competition. The Irishman will start again tomorrow.
Right-back is a trickier one for Klopp, but with no too many other options, we think he’ll swap Joe Gomez from left to right-back.
Joel Matip was the only one of Liverpool’s senior centre-backs not to feature against Luton Town on Sunday. As a result he’ll surely play here, with Jarell Quansah given the chance to build on his excellent display last week against Bournemouth.
Although we think he’ll be slated for a starting return on Sunday too, we think Kostas Tsimikas will make up the back five.
Midfield
With the games now coming thick and fast, it feels like Klopp’s options are starting to be squeezed just a little.
In that respect, Alexis Mac Allister’s suspension for the weekend game helps slightly here. The Argentine should come in to make his first ever Europa League start.
We don’t think he’ll be playing the holding role, though. Instead, it seems likely that Wataru Endo will come back in to gain rhythm ahead of a possible start against Brentford.
Assuming that Curtis Jones isn’t able to shake off the knock that kept him out against Luton, we think Harvey Elliott will complete the midfield.
Attack
Just like with the rest of the team really, Liverpool are having to rotate their forwards to get the best out of them.
Thankfully, young Ben Doak’s return to fitness should help ease the burden. The 17-year-old has been described as being ‘unbelievable’ and will be keen to reassert himself following a brief injury.
You’d imagine that having started from the bench on Sunday that Cody Gakpo would join young Doak in attack.
Meanwhile, Klopp may be tempted to give more minutes to Luis Diaz. But we think it more likely that Diogo Jota keeps his place on the left.
Liverpool’s predicted XI vs Toulouse: Kelleher; Gomez, Matip, Quansah, Tsimikas; Endo, Elliott, Mac Allister; Doak, Gakpo, Jota
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