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Liverpool Echo

Sport

Sean Bradbury & Ian Doyle & Paul Gorst & Richard Garnett

Liverpool line-ups as Darwin Nunez decision made and formation changes again for West Ham

Darwin Nunez West Ham Trent AlexanderArnold Andy Robertson Diogo Jota Fabinho Harvey Elliott Joe Gomez Jordan Henderson Mohamed Salah

Henderson returns with 4-3-3 and new role for Nunez

Paul Gorst: Another game, another player on the injured list at Liverpool. This time it’s Diogo Jota, whose serious calf issue means he’ll sadly miss the World Cup for Portugal.

Ibrahima Konate, Joel Matip and Luis Diaz are all out too, while Curtis Jones, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita are yet to play a minute this season.

The back four sees Trent Alexander-Arnold return this evening, despite the first-rate job James Milner did there against Manchester City. The rest of the back five remains unchanged.

In midfield I’m weighing up a return for Jordan Henderson. Harvey Elliott was excellent against City on Sunday, as was everyone else, but the captain may offer Alexander-Arnold a tad more protection on that side. Elliott can rest up for Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Up top, I’m tempted to name Darwin Nunez out on the left. The Uruguay striker has played there for Benfica and I think his direct threat might be more called for than the more subtle approach of Fabio Carvalho.

My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Firmino, Nunez.

Is there anyone left for Jurgen Klopp?

Ian Doyle: One of the most intriguing/annoying things about Liverpool's injuries this season is they appear like buses - once one player gets injured in a position, someone else follows.

It's happened with goalkeeper, centre-back, midfielder, right-back and now left-winger with the news Diogo Jota is sidelined for a considerable period. What, then, to do for the Premier League visit of West Ham United?

Alisson Becker remains in goal, and there's one change to the defence with Trent Alexander-Arnold replacing the presumably shattered James Milner at right-back. Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson make up the rest of the back line.

I'd stick with the same formation but make a slight change in midfield with Jordan Henderson replacing Thiago Alcantara alongside Fabinho. I'm envisaging a bit of a scrap with the Hammers hardly the smallest of teams.

And up top, Darwin Nunez can come in on the left after his all-action cameo from the bench against City, with Roberto Firmino in behind Mohamed Salah and Harvey Elliott on the right. Fabio Carvalho is definitely getting some good minutes, however.

My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson; Elliott, Firmino, Nunez; Salah.

Formation tweak needed in Jota absence as Nunez starts

Sean Bradbury: The most difficult call here is how to replace Diogo Jota - and whether that needs another formation tweak.

I would argue it does. The Portugal star has become quietly key to the changes in recent weeks, with his energy and adaptability coming to the fore.

Darwin Nunez has to start, but I'm not sure a direct plug into the wide left position in a 4-4-2/4-2-3-1 is his ideal spot. With fitness concerns at centre-back for West Ham, getting the big man as high up the pitch as possible may be the best ploy.

So it is back to 4-3-3 with Nunez, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah in attack. Midfield can be Thiago, Fabinho and Harvey Elliott.

And in defence, Trent Alexander-Arnold returns with Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson alongside him.

My team (4-3-3-): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Elliott, Thiago; Salah, Firmino, Nunez.

Continuity at the back to build on City clean sheet

Rich Garnett: The dust has barely settled on Liverpool's barn-storming encounter with Manchester City and we're back at Anfield for another go. There's little point in beating the Premier League champions if you're not going to follow it up with another win at home, so it goes without saying that this is a pretty important match for the Reds.

Liverpool's clean sheet against Pep Guardiola's side was one of the most pleasing aspects of Sunday's performance and it is for that very reason that I'm looking for continuity tonight.

James Milner put in his best performance of the season against City and although he might not have age on his side, what message does leaving him out of the side send when you've delivered the goods? Liverpool's players need to accept that they are not irreplaceable and for this very reason I'm keeping Milner in the side with Trent Alexander-Arnold having to wait for his opportunity off the bench.

Jurgen Klopp is short of centre-back options but given the outstanding performances of Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk against City, his selections here will be a formality. Andy Robertson's aggression was a welcome return so he continues at left-back.

The Reds' 4-4-2 experiment was a success against the Sky Blues but the loss of Diogo Jota creates a bit of a dilemma and I can see a switch back to 4-3-3 for this match at least.

Jordan Henderson comes back in alongside Thiago Alcantara with Fabinho at the base. Up top Mohamed Salah returns to his usual right-sided spot with his old mate the in-form Roberto Firmino down the middle, which leaves a decision to make on the right.

Darwin Nunez has not yet demonstrated the comfort to operate effectively in an attacking trio for me and as such, I'm giving the place for Fabio Carvalho as a result of his superior control and footwork.

Should things not go to plan, Nunez will get his chance off the bench to show what he can do, as can Harvey Elliott, who worked so hard against City.

My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Milner, Gomez. Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Firmino, Carvalho.

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