What will Liverpool's starting line-up be against Newcastle?
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Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have dramatically underperformed this season as they sit firmly in the middle-of-the-table. However, their 2-0 win against Everton in the Merseyside derby on Monday showed glimpses of the intensity that is so commonly associated with a Klopp Liverpool side.
The back four the other night was Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez and Andrew Robertson. Whilst the defence looked strong and untroubled against a struggling Everton side, Virgil van Dijk is expected to return to the starting line-up. The Dutchman returned to the bench for the victory the other night but should come back into the team as he also seeks minutes ahead of Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League Last 16 first-leg against Real Madrid in midweek.
Ibrahima Konate and Calvin Ramsay remain injured so any other changes in the defence are unlikely, although Kostas Tsimikas might get the nod in order to rest and rotate Robertson.
Stefan Bajcetic came back into the eleven for that victory and the young Spaniard was excellent so is expected to keep his place in The Reds’ midfield, alongside captain Jordan Henderson and Fabinho. Rotation might occur with the aforementioned Madrid tie on the horizon and, given that Thiago Alcantara is injured, that would likely involve one of James Milner, Naby Keita or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain returning to the line-up.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could also feature in a potential front three, if Klopp believes that having the freshest team possible for the UEFA Champions League is worth sacrificing the strongest eleven against Newcastle United, with a top four finish remaining extremely unlikely, despite their recent victory.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho would be the main candidates to come in for the game, particularly Elliott who has show real signs of quality this season. Luis Diaz remains sidelined with his long-term injury, though.
Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah played in a fluid and fun front three the other day with Nunez stationed mainly on the wing to stretch the Everton defence and Gakpo and Salah able to rotate their positions with both forwards managing to get on the score sheet. Given that all three, but mainly Nunez and Salah, will be needed as key starters for the upcoming home game against Madrid.
Rotation has been a key element of Jurgen Klopp’s reign, especially in their run to the FA Cup, EFL Cup and UEFA Champions League finals last season. However, given how poor they have been throughout the campaign, the German might be tempted to stick with an eleven that managed an efficient and comfortable victory last time out.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Bajcetic; Salah, Gakpo, Darwin
UNAVAILABLE: Konate (Injured), Ramsey (Injured), Diaz (Injured), Thiago (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Arthur (Injured)
