Defensive shake-up as Darwin Nunez leads the line
Paul Gorst: After just one start all season, it seems Ibrahima Konate is the latest Liverpool player to pull up with the dreaded 'muscle injury'. Anfield sources were still insisting he hadn't been ruled out of today's huge clash with Manchester City, but all the signs are ominous.
Should Konate miss out then the decision then revolves around what happens with Joe Gomez and whether James Milner will play at right-back or not. It also has a knock-on effect with midfield in case Fabinho is poised to return to the centre of the park if Jurgen Klopp was weighing up a three-man engine room once more.
Even Nat Phillips has been spoken about returning to the side for his first appearance since the draw with Crystal Palace in August. These are testing times that are stretching the Liverpool squad to its limit.
Up top, the options are more plentiful, at least. Does Darwin Nunez retain his place as he aims to make it three goals in as many games? Will an in-form Roberto Firmino be given license to continue? And what about Diogo Jota?
Once more concrete theory is that Mohamed Salah will return to the lineup given his six-minute-and-12-second piece of Champions League history at Ibrox. Andy Robertson also returns to my team today too.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Gomez, Fabinho, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Firmino, Jota; Nunez.
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Don't be scared - there's another right-back
Ian Doyle: It's the battle between the two best teams in England over the last five years - even if one of them isn't very good at the moment.
And what better time for Jurgen Klopp's side to remind everyone they can actually play football than the Premier League visit of Manchester City. Except, of course, there are several key players missing - in the same positions.
We'll start with the formation. That's 4-2-3-1. And let's go up top, where Darwin Nunez starts again. Behind him is Roberto Firmino, with Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota coming back on the right and left flanks respectively.
The two in midfield can be Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara. Which, of course, leaves the defence.
Andy Robertson can come back in at left-back, with Virgil van Dijk one of the centre-backs. He can be joined by Joe Gomez shifting across. And the right-back? None other than Jordan Henderson.
Yeah, bet none of you saw that coming, did you? And neither will City. Feel free to call me a managerial genius later.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Henderson, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Firmino, Jota; Nunez.
Fabinho at the back with Mohamed Salah up top
Sean Bradbury: Liverpool's best hope today is surely an element of unpredictability.
All the form suggests Manchester City and robotic goal machine Erling Haaland are big favourites for the clash. So giving Pep Guardiola an unexpected puzzle might be the best way to approach it at the start.
Absences in defence are a concern and assuming Ibrahima Konate is ruled out, I would take the drastic action of dropping Fabinho into the backline. Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez (at right-back) join him.
Thiago and Jordan Henderson get the nod in the middle, with Harvey Elliott and Diogo Jota on the flanks. Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah are up top together.
It might be a little unorthodox - but there is the potential to be flexible and change it as the game progresses.
My team (4-4-2): Alisson; Gomez, Fabinho, Van Dijk, Robertson; Elliott, Henderson, Thiago, Jota; Salah, Nunez.
Nat Phillips gets the nod in absence of Ibrahima Konate
Charlotte Coates: This is about as tough as it gets in football at the moment, as Manchester City visit Anfield looking to pile more misery on Liverpool's Premier League campaign.
These two sides have gone toe-to-toe over the past few years, but things look different now as City come into this clash with a 13 point lead over their rivals.
Priorities may be different this season, but this still remains as fiercely competitive as ever as Liverpool will not go down without a fight and could surprise a few here...
In goal will be Alisson Becker. The defence is where problems occur with Ibrahima Konate missing training on Friday. Joe Gomez will keep his place at right-back with Trent Alexander-Arnold injured. Virgil van Dijk will be partnered by Nat Phillips with Andy Robertson coming back into the left-back spot.
Klopp will bring Fabinho back into the midfield to partner Thiago Alcantara in the middle of the pitch. In attack for the Reds will be a dangerous front four of Roberto Firmino, Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Gomez, Phillips, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Firmino, Jota; Nunez.
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