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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Jurgen Klopp faces Luis Diaz conundrum as Liverpool consider midfield switch

Liverpool maintained their quadruple quest with a hard-earned victory at Brighton on Saturday.

Luis Diaz's brave header and a Mohamed Salah penalty secured the Reds a 2-0 Premier League win on the South Coast.

Liverpool will look to keep pace with Manchester City at the top of the table when they visit Arsenal on Wednesday for a ninth meeting in 20 months with the Gunners.

And here we look ahead to the changes Jurgen Klopp could make when his team are next in action.

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Same again at back?

With the games coming thick and fast, Klopp has made a point of rotating his squad whenever possible.

There were three changes at the weekend from the side that took on Inter Milan in the Champions League, and it's certain there will be more freshening up of the side.

The defence, though, has largely remained unaltered. And with Ibrahima Konate again missing at Brighton, the status quo could well remain should the Frenchman again be unavailable.

Joe Gomez will be pushing Joel Matip for a start at centre-back alongside Virgil van Dijk, while Kostas Tsimikas may have to wait until the FA Cup quarter-final at Nottingham Forest on Sunday for a chance to replace Andy Robertson at left-back.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is poised to continue at right-back, with Gomez and James Milner recent alternatives.

Middle question

By contrast, the midfield has seen plentiful rotation throughout the campaign. And it's almost certain to be the same at the Emirates.

Fabinho has been a regular feature while Jordan Henderson's form has improved markedly in recent weeks.

Naby Keita has started four of the last five Premier League games, which makes it interesting to see what opportunities Thiago Alcantara has in coming matches.

Curtis Jones started against Inter, James Milner hasn't been in the XI for a Premier League games since January 2 while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has made just two outings since the Africa Cup of Nations trio of Keita, Sadio Mane and Salah all returned.

Harvey Elliott is another option, although he has made just one Premier League substitute appearance since returning from injury.

Salah wait

The big question, of course, is whether Salah is available having injured his foot at Brighton on Saturday.

Should he not be available, there are plenty of options for Klopp with Diaz, Mane, Diogo Jota and Oxlade-Chamberlain all capable of playing down the right flank.

Depending on who would be chosen on the wing, Salah's potential absence would then allow the return of one forward with Jota and the fit-again Roberto Firmino on standby.

Both Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi weren't involved at Brighton and, like Tsimikas, may have to wait until the FA Cup tie next Sunday.

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