Seeking to snap a three-game winless run away from home, Liverpool head to Bramall Lane to face rock-bottom Sheffield United in the Premier League on Wednesday evening.
The Reds made it 11 wins from as many home games this season in incredible fashion at the weekend, defeating Fulham 4-3. The win took them to second in the Premier League table, just two points short of leaders Arsenal.
Jurgen Klopp’s side will be smacking their lips at the prospect of facing a hapless Sheffield United, who are set to sack manager Paul Heckingbottom after the 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Burnley over the weekend.
Liverpool Team News
Joel Matip was forced off with an unspecified issue in the second half against Fulham, and Jurgen Klopp has conceded that he faces a while on the sidelines. He joins Alisson Becker (thigh), Diogo Jota (muscle), Andrew Robertson (shoulder), Thiago Alcantara (hip) and Stefan Bajcetic (calf) in the treatment room.
Predicted Liverpool lineup vs Sheffield United (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
With Alisson Becker injured, Caoimhin Kelleher is expected to continue in goal for the Reds. He will be hoping to shut the shop as quickly as possible in midweek after conceding thrice against Fulham.
Defence
Joel Matip’s injury over the weekend was a big blow, but thankfully for Jurgen Klopp, a fit-again Ibrahima Konate is ready to come straight back into the XI. The Frenchman should partner Virgil van Dijk in central defence, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kostas Tsimikas holding their places at full-back.
Tsimikas will be required to bomb up and down to offer width and deliver tantalising crosses into the box from the left, while Alexander-Arnold, who scored a fantastic brace including the winner against Fulham, should invert into midfield and initiate attacks with his quality passing from deep.
Midfield
This is a good opportunity for Klopp to rotate ahead of another away day at Crystal Palace on Saturday, so he could make changes in midfield. After scoring a spectacular goal to equalise against Fulham, Wataru Endo could be handed a start at Bramall Lane.
With Endo holding the fort in midfield, Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch will get the freedom to push higher up the pitch and do damage in the final third. Having played constantly since the start of the campaign, Dominik Szoboszlai could be given a breather in midweek.
Attack
Finally, in attack, 10-goal top scorer Mohamed Salah is a guaranteed starter on the right of Liverpool’s front three. He could be joined by Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo, who will come into the starting XI at the expense of Darwin Nunez.
With their pace, trickery and flair, Liverpool’s front three can cause endless problems for the hapless Blades’ defence.
