Liverpool needs to respond strongly going into their Premier League match against Crystal Palace, and manager Jurgen Klopp may make up to seven changes to his starting lineup.
The Reds need a boost after losing badly 3-0 to Atalanta and drawing 2-2 with Manchester United, both of which featured numerous wasted opportunities.
Three days after that significant Europa League setback, Palace will visit Anfield, and Klopp is probably going to make a few changes.
Thankfully, he has a large roster to select from, making it more challenging to guess Liverpool’s starting lineup.
There was no update on fitness at Klopp’s press conference, which was conducted immediately following the Atalanta game, but we do know the following:
– There was “no chance” Trent Alexander-Arnold would play on Thursday.
– In terms of fitness, Diogo Jota was “step ahead” of Alexander-Arnold.
– Klopp expressed surprise at Curtis Jones’s rapid fatigue.
– Alisson did not make the squad, although he is in full training.
– The only known absentees are Ben Doak, Thiago, and Joel Matip.
With his team almost fully healthy but after two disappointing games, Klopp may have to make some tough choices regarding his starting lineup.
Does Alisson play for the XI again? Is Ibrahima Konate favored over Jarell Quansah? Is Dominik Szoboszlai deserving of his position? Is Jota healthy enough to begin?
The following could be Sunday’s most likely lineup:
Conor Bradley and Andy Robertson Szoboszlai will take over in defense, with Alisson returning following an outstanding stand-in stint for Caoimhin Kelleher Quinsah. The half-fit Jones will be replaced in midfield by Bradley and Szoboszlai.
Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, and Mo Salah uniting once more in an assault
If Liverpool made seven changes by midweek, their starting lineup would look like this:
Alisson; Endo, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Salah, Diaz, Nunez; Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson
Given the form and level of health across his team, Klopp’s roster for the upcoming weekend is subject to change.
Instead, we could observe:
Kelleher maintaining his position with Alisson is not quite 100%
Konate is still the starting center back.
In midfield, Harvey Elliott is preferred over Szoboszlai.
A risk taken by replacing Nunez up front with Jota
Before the game, Klopp should provide a more thorough report, making it difficult to predict whether players like Jota and Alisson can start.
However, it’s likely that, should they be able to, they’ll be added back into the team, and Liverpool’s starting lineup on Sunday may provide some answers regarding first-choice possibilities.
