What will Liverpool's starting line-up be against Real Madrid?
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One of the best bits of Jurgen Klopp’s management at Liverpool has been his ability to smartly rotate his squad in order to ensure the team’s freshness. This was most evident last season when The Reds played in the maximum amount of matches they could do in the season, reaching the finals of the FA Cup and the EFL Cup, as well as the UEFA Champions League.
This season, due to poor performances and results as well as several injuries, Klopp has struggled to find a consistent strongest eleven in order to rest and rotate from that starting point. Instead, there has been chopping and changing in a desperate attempt to pick up results, and not just maintain the fitness of his squad.
However, the German has been able to field the same midfield three and front three in their last two league matches. Back-to-back 2-0 victories against Everton and Newcastle, whilst they had some weak points in the performances, has begun to establish a front six that could see them through at least the next month or so.
The midfield three of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Stefan Bajcetic has been well balanced and, unusually for this season, good in possession. Henderson and Fabinho’s general dip in form has been attributed to their age but both players have put in solid performances to go alongside the very impressive continued emergence of Bajcetic. The technically astute Galician midfielder has been a fulcrum of Liverpool’s recent improvement in transition from defence to attack.
All three of Liverpool’s front three have scored in their last two matches with Cody Gakpo, who hadn’t yet notched since his arrival in the January transfer window, getting two in two. The fluidity of the entire attack has allowed Liverpool a freedom going forward, when they had looked stodgy for much of this campaign.
A concern is the shoulder injury that Darwin Nunez suffered in a challenge with Kieran Trippier in the 2-0 win at St James’ Park at the weekend. The Uruguayan is a doubt for the first-leg of this tie and that could be crucial as his pace in behind would be a major concern to a Real Madrid defence that have hardly been water-tight throughout the campaign.
If Nunez is to miss this first-leg then Roberto Firmino would likely be included ahead of Diogo Jota. Firmino’s awareness to drop deep, rather than go in behind, would mean Gakpo and Salah having to slightly adjust their recent roles.
The back four pretty much picks itself, especially due to the injury of Ibrahima Konate. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson in-front of Alisson is the tried and trusted formula that has been underperforming this season but remains a legitimately elite back-line, given their past performances.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Bajcetic; Salah, Firmino, Gakpo
UNAVAILABLE: Diaz (Injured), Thiago (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Konate (Injured), Darwin (Injured)
