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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Paul Gorst

Darwin Nunez absence explained as Liverpool make four changes for Crystal Palace

Darwin Nunez misses out for Liverpool as Diogo Jota makes his first start since October at Crystal Palace.

Uruguay striker Nunez had registered goals in successive games against Newcastle and Real Madrid but was forced off midway through the second half of Tuesday's 5-2 defeat to the Spaniards in the Champions League.

Nunez was taken off with a shoulder injury in the 2-0 win over Newcastle last week and is still feeling the effects of the challenge from Kieran Trippier at St James' Park. As a result, he drops out entirely.

LIVE: Crystal Palace vs Liverpool score updates and analysis

Meanwhile, Joe Gomez also suffered a knock against Real Madrid and misses out.

“They are both injured,” Klopp told Sky Sports before kick-off. “So, Darwin had the shoulder problem from the Newcastle game.

“[It] worked out for the Real Madrid game but then [he] got another knock there, felt it again and more so there was no chance for today. Hopefully he can be [back] in midweek again.”

Jota, whose comeback after a four-month lay-off with a serious calf problem came against Everton last week, is named in the starting lineup of a Liverpool team for the first time since the 1-0 win over Manchester City on October 16.

The former Wolves man is expected to start off the left of the attack with Cody Gakpo once more leading the line with Mohamed Salah on the right. A brace for the Egyptian at Selhurst Park will see him equal Robbie Fowler's Premier League record haul of 128.

In midfield, James Milner and Naby Keita return to the side alongside captain Jordan Henderson as Fabinho and Stefan Bajcetic drop out to the substitutes' bench.

Joel Matip replaces the injured Gomez at centre-half to partner Virgil van Dijk as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and Alisson Becker keep their places.

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Milner, Keita; Salah, Gakpo, Jota.

Subs: Kelleher, Williams, Tsimikas, Fabinho, Bajectic, Elliott, Carvalho, Jones, Firmino.

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