Liverpool take on Brentford on Sunday aiming to end a two-match winless run.
This time last week, things were looking rosy for Liverpool. But a draw against Luton Town and a Europa League loss against Toulouse have shifted the mood. Here’s the XI we think Jurgen Klopp will send out for a must-win game at Anfield.
Defence
Watching Caoimhin Kelleher this week has given a reminder about just how good Alisson Becker is. Thankfully, Liverpool will have their No.1 back for this one.
Beyond Alisson, the rest of the back four is quite difficult to pick. But we think Klopp is going to mix things up a little and continue with Joe Gomez at right-back.
Providing he’s returned from illness, Virgil van Dijk will come back into the side, with Ibrahima Konate likely to partner him.
At left-back, we think Klopp will have little option but to stick with the under-fire Kostas Tsimikas. Rightly labelled ‘poor’ for his display in Toulouse, the Greek has a big point to prove. We think he’ll get the chance to prove it.
Midfield
The reason for the selections of Gomez and Tsimikas is because we reckon Klopp is about to stick Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield.
The manager hinted that he may do this yesterday, and we actually think that he hasn’t much choice.
With Alexis Mac Allister suspended, someone has to play the holding role. The natural choice would be Wataru Endo, but given that he was hauled off at half-time after a woeful performance on Thursday, we don’t think the Japanese will be trusted.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Harvey Elliott should make up what looks like a worryingly threadbare midfield for Liverpool.
Attack
If Liverpool’s midfield is threadbare, then Klopp has no such worries with his attack. All five options are fit and available.
Mohamed Salah is, as always, the easiest name to pick, although the Egyptian has been subdued over his past two appearances.
Having played just a few minutes on Thursday, it also looks like Darwin Nunez will be given the nod through the middle.
Finally, having been one of the only bright-spots of a miserable night in Europe, Diogo Jota simply has to start here. With Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz off the bench, this is easily the strongest area of Liverpool’s squad right now. They have to make it count.
Liverpool’s predicted XI vs Brentford: Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Alexander-Arnold, Elliott, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Jota
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
