Jurgen Klopp is set to restore Liverpool’s big guns for Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace, but the displays of certain Reds against Tottenham hand the boss some interesting decisions to make.
Having booked their place in the League Cup quarter-finals, Klopp’s in-form Reds divert their focus back to Premier League matters with a trip to Selhurst Park.
The Reds are 10 games unbeaten in all competitions, having won five of their last six league matches, and Klopp’s men will want to extend the fine run against Alan Pardew’s Eagles as they attempt to take advantage of a winnable run of games.
Klopp is certain to restore the vast majority of the XI which beat West Brom last weekend and were rested in midweek, but with Gini Wijnaldum and Daniel Sturridge in particular shining against Spurs, the Reds boss has some food for thought.
Team News
- Interesting selection ahead for Klopp with strong and in-form squad available
- Though James Milner is a doubt due to illness and will be assessed
- Alberto Moreno set to enter at left-back if Milner misses out
- Jordan Henderson available after serving one-match suspension
- Loris Karius to take over from Simon Mignolet in goal
- Nathaniel Clyne, Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren set to be restored
- Midfield and attacking options aplenty for Klopp
- Emre Can & Georginio Wijnaldum battling for central role
- Daniel Sturridge hopeful of retaining starting shirt after brace vs. Spurs
- But Klopp could stick with trusted trio of Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino
Liverpool’s Lineup vs. The Eagles
Klopp has a near-full squad to select from for his second visit to Selhurst Park, with Milner being the German’s only doubt.
The Reds leader could therefore simply name his strongest team available, providing the vice-captain recovers in time to feature against Pardew’s side.
This would see the German boss once again deploy what has developed into his first-choice back-four, with Karius returning in goal, while Wijnaldum would re-form the Reds’ energetic three-man midfield alongside Henderson and Adam Lallana.
Klopp’s explosive and skillful preferred trio of Mane, Coutinho and Firmino would continue in attack, meaning Liverpool’s XI would look like this come kick-off time:
However, Klopp could deploy a slightly different starting team, given Milner’s potential absence and with the Reds to face a physical and direct Palace side.
One alteration could be forced if the vice-captain fails to overcome illness, which would see Moreno enter at left-back.
But Klopp could also keep Emre Can in midfield – at Wijnaldum’s expense – for the added physicality he offers the team, and having impressed with a strong performance against West Brom last time out.
Despite his clinical finishes against Spurs, Sturridge is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench with Klopp again sticking to his favoured attacking set-up, meaning the Reds would look like this:
Having started the winnable run as they mean to go on against the Baggies last weekend, it is vital Klopp’s side remain focussed to claim another important three points against the Eagles.
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