Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Jurgen Klopp faces unexpected Darwin Nunez decision as Liverpool consider midfield change

Liverpool started to address their indifferent start to the Premier League season with an excellent victory against Manchester City on Sunday.

Mohamed Salah scored the only goal 14 minutes from time as the Reds inflicted a first top-flight defeat of the season on the champions at Anfield. Liverpool will now look to begin closing the gap on the top four when they entertain West Ham United on Wednesday night.

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

READ MORE: Man City must show leadership if they are serious about vile Liverpool chants

READ MORE: Bernardo 'attack' on Mo Salah exposed as Pep Guardiola fumes at Liverpool break

Trent to return?

With Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate both expected to remain out, Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk are almost certain to continue as the centre-back pairing after impressing against City. Nat Phillips, on the bench at the weekend, is the other senior option.

At left-back, Andy Robertson made his first start in more then five weeks on Sunday and had assumed the first-choice left-back role ahead of Kostas Tsimikas.

On the other flank, it's likely the fit-again Trent Alexander-Arnold will step back in after a brief cameo from the bench, with James Milner having shone at right-back while completing 90 minutes in the Premier League for only the fifth time in 18 months. Calvin Ramsay was missing from full training last week.

Alisson Becker remains in possession of the goalkeeper's jersey, with Caoimhin Kelleher having edged ahead of Adrian as the Brazilian's deputy.

Henderson on standby

The intense schedule before next month's World Cup makes it a good bet Klopp will rotate his midfield resources, influenced by the recent switch to a 4-2-3-1/4-4-2 hybrid formation.

Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara were at the base of the central midfield, although it appears likely Jordan Henderson, a substitute against City, will step in to replace one of the duo. It would be a big ask for the veteran Milner to start twice in four days in two different positions.

Roberto Firmino has started the last two games in the advanced midfield role behind the main striker, and while Fabio Carvalho and Harvey Elliott can both play in the position, they may be needed elsewhere.

Curtis Jones' versatility makes him a viable option, although he may have to wait a little longer having only returned to the bench at the weekend. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is back in training, but Naby Keita is still to resume work on the pitch and on-loan Arthur Melo is out until next year.

Nunez decision

The big call from Klopp could well be who starts on the left flank with Diogo Jota having joined Luis Diaz on the sidelines.

Carvalho started against Brighton and Hove Albion and Rangers in the role and Tsimikas could be employed further upfield. But Darwin Nunez was lively when introduced there for the closing stages in the win over City, particularly with Mohamed Salah having scored four goals in his last two games in the central role.

Should the Egyptian stay down the middle, Elliott would be poised to continue on the right of the three players in support of Salah.

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.