Liverpool host defending champions Manchester City at Anfield in what is expected to be a mouthwatering clash on Sunday.
The Reds sit 13 points behind Pep Guardiola’s Man City going into Sunday’s big game. They are 11th in the table and have struggled to meet expectations this season. Following last weekend’s 3-2 away defeat to Arsenal, Jurgen Klopp’s side did bounce back emphatically by thrashing Rangers 7-1 at the Ibrox in the Champions League.
However, Klopp knows his side must produce a superb team display to beat an in-form Man City side at the weekend.
Liverpool Team News
Liverpool have been handed an injury scare ahead of Man City’s visit, with centre-back Ibrahima Konate absent from training on Friday. The Frenchman has only just returned from injury, but was replaced by James Milner with 11 minutes to play against Rangers on Wednesday.
As a result, Konate is a big doubt for the encounter against City but it is all speculation as of now with more clarity expected closer to the game.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joel Matip will miss at least a fortnight of action with ankle and calf injuries, respectively, whereas Luis Diaz is likely to be out for six to eight weeks with a knee injury that he suffered against Arsenal.
In some positive update on the injury front, both Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain returned to training earlier this week.
Predicted Liverpool Lineup vs Man City (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
Alisson remains Liverpool’s undisputed No.1 and should keep his place in between the sticks against Man City.
Defence
With Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joel Matip out injured, we will see a new look backline from Klopp tomorrow regardless of Konate’s injury status.
We could see Joe Gomez start at right-back in the Liverpool lineup. James Milner is also an option but Klopp is unlikely to back him from the start in such a crucial fixture given his displays this season.
Virgil van Dijk is a certainty to start in the Liverpool lineup but there is a fair amount of doubt regarding his partner in defence. With no confirmed news yet, we are backing Ibrahima Konate to start alongside the Dutchman. Nat Phillips is an alternative if Konate is declared unfit for the game.
Kostas Tsimikas has performed valiantly in Robertson’s absence but if considered match-fit, Andy Robertson will walk into the Liverpool lineup at left-back.
Midfield
There are doubts whether Klopp will stick with a more attacking approach and take the game to Man City at Anfield tomorrow. But given their past success against the Sky Blues in a 4-3-3 formation and the lack of solidity in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Arsenal last weekend, we could see Klopp revert to a 3-man midfield tomorrow.
In that case, Thiago Alcantara will be stationed on the left in a midfield three in the Liverpool lineup while Fabinho and Henderson will complete the midfield setup with the Brazilian sitting the deepest.
Attack
A hat-trick against Rangers in midweek should see Mohamed Salah walk into the game against Man City as a completely different player. He will be stationed on the right-flank in the Liverpool lineup.
A 4-3-3 setup will see an attacking player sacrificed and despite his form, it could well be Darwin Nunez who could have to settle for a place on the bench to start things off.
Diogo Jota is likely to play on the left with Roberto Firmino taking up his role as the false 9 in the Liverpool lineup.
Harvey Elliot, Darwin Nunez and Fabio Carvalho could be brought off the bench in the second half if required.
