Liverpool cross swords with Chelsea at Anfield on Saturday, hoping to bounce back to winning ways in the Premier League.
Jurgen Klopp saw his team book a place in the FA Cup fourth round in midweek by beating Wolves 1-0, which offers at least some encouragement after such a dismal performance away at Brighton last weekend.
The Reds are ninth in the table, ten points behind fourth-place Newcastle United. So, Klopp will want his boys to build on the midweek performance and get all three points against Chelsea, who head to Anfield on the back of a narrow 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.
Liverpool Team News
Jurgen Klopp has stated that Darwin Nunez could be back in time to face Chelsea, after the Uruguay international missed the Reds’ last two games with a minor issue. Kostas Tsimikas picked up a knock in the back against Wolves but did manage to complete the full game.
Meanwhile, Liverpool will continue to be without Luis Diaz (knee), Diogo Jota (calf), Virgil van Dijk (hamstring), Arthur Melo (thigh) and Roberto Firmino (leg).
Predicted Liverpool Lineup vs Chelsea (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
Jurgen Klopp rung the changes for the midweek FA Cup win over Wolves and is expected to go full strength against Chelsea. Alisson should start in goal, hoping to keep a clean sheet this time around after conceding thrice against Brighton last weekend.
Defence
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson should be fresh to face Chelsea having been rested in the midweek cup tie at Wolves. They will come back into the starting XI, replacing James Milner and Kostas Tsimikas at right-back and left-back, respectively.
Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate kept a clean sheet against Wolves on Tuesday evening, which should encourage Klopp to stick with the same centre-back pairing when Chelsea visit Anfield.
Midfield
Stefan Bajcetic and Naby Keita performed well in midfield against Wolves but considering the latter’s fitness concerns, Klopp could opt to not start Keita twice in a week. Harvey Elliot may operate back in midfield after an eye-catching display from the right wing at Molineux.
Fabinho is in line to return, with Bajcetic making way for the Brazilian, while Thiago Alcantara continues to be untouchable in the middle of the park.
Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Curtis Jones and Keita will wait for their opportunities to impress in the second half.
Attack
Mohamed Salah is likely to be recalled into the starting XI, and the Egyptian will be raring to make a mark against his former employers. He will start in his usual position on the right, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hoping to bring creative spark and energy from the left flank.
Darwin Nunez could be fit in time to face Chelsea but Klopp is unlikely to risk him from the start, meaning Cody Gakpo should lead the Liverpool attack once again.
