Jurgen Klopp has made two changes to his Liverpool lineup for Saturday’s all-important Premier League clash with Man United at Anfield.
The Reds take on their bitter rivals in their second game of October, looking to respond to a disappointing 1-1 draw to Newcastle United before the international break.
Since their 4-0 victory at home to Arsenal at the end of August, Klopp’s side have endured a miserable run of form, winning just once in seven games.
With Jose Mourinho’s United arriving on Merseyside joint-top of the Premier League, yet to lose in the English top flight, the challenge is clear.
And Klopp has been forced to deal with the absence of Sadio Mane, with the winger sidelined for the next six weeks with a hamstring injury picked up on Senegal duty.
The German is still able to name a strong side, however, with the summer transfer window at least providing more fitting replacements for the No. 19.
Simon Mignolet starts in goal, behind a back four of Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren and Alberto Moreno.
In midfield, Jordan Henderson is set to take up the No. 6 role, flanked by Emre Can and Georginio Wijnaldum.
Taking Mane’s place on the wing is Philippe Coutinho, joining Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino in Klopp’s three-man forward line.
Andrew Robertson once again misses out on a place on the substitutes’ bench, with Trent Alexander-Arnold preferred as Klopp’s reserve full-back.
United have seemingly opted for a back five, with Matteo Darmian expected to play at centre-back, as Mourinho looks to counter the threat of Coutinho.
Liverpool: Mignolet; Gomez, Matip, Lovren, Moreno; Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum; Salah, Coutinho, Firmino
Substitutes: Karius, Klavan, Alexander-Arnold, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Solanke, Sturridge
Man United: De Gea; Valencia, Darmian, Smalling, Jones, Young; Matic, Herrara; Mkhitaryan, Martial, Lukaku
Substitutes: Romero, Lindelof, Tuanzebe, Blind, Mata, Lingard, Rashford
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