Liverpool have a big chance to consolidate their position at the top of the Premier League table on Sunday.
Although the Reds could be third by the time they kick-off their game against Manchester United, a win will see them sitting pretty in number one regardless. Here’s the XI we think Jurgen Klopp will send out against the old enemy at Anfield.
Defence
Having made a brilliant return to the side last weekend at Crystal Palace, Liverpool will be thankful to have Alisson Becker between the sticks for this one. Caoimhin Kelleher did okay in midweek, but the big man’s back for this one.
Four Liverpool players were given the night completely off against Union Saint-Gilloise on Thursday in anticipation for tomorrow. Three of those are in the back five, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk set to re-join Alisson in the starting line-up.
Klopp has a call to make with who joins Van Dijk at centre-back, though. The manager confirmed that the decision to play both Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate for 45 minutes each in Belgium was pre-planned, meaning either could get the nod here.
Gomez may well be in the better form of the two, but we think it’ll be Konate who ends up winning this battle. At left-back, Kostas Tsimikas will continue.
Midfield
With Alexis Mac Allister still injured, the midfield three looks set to be a bit of a toss-up on Sunday.
The only one every Liverpool fan will probably pick to start is Dominik Szoboszlai. The Hungarian will continue his record of starting each league game for the Reds since joining.
Who joins Szoboszlai though is really anyone’s guess. None of the candidates are in especially brilliant form, with Wataru Endo in particular struggling over the past two games.
As a result of Endo’s slump and Mac Allister’s injury, we think Klopp will turn to Curtis Jones to play defensive midfield. The 22-year-old was recently hailed as an ‘outstanding’ player in that position by England U21s boss Lee Carsley, and he’s going to have to be again.
This may not be a universal choice, but we’re expecting Ryan Gravenberch to complete the three.
Attack
Liverpool’s attack is relatively straight-forward to predict based on what happened on Thursday.
Cody Gakpo played the full 90 minutes in the Europa League meaning that he’s virtually certain to start this one from the bench.
That will leave Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz to be the men to do the damage against United. All three have scored against United previously, with Salah looking to inflict more misery on his statistically favourite opponents.
Liverpool’s predicted XI vs Man United: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Jones, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
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