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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
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Sean Bradbury & Ian Doyle & Mark Wakefield & Hannah Pinnock

Liverpool line-ups for Crystal Palace as new signing experiment continues and key men return

Expect fewer changes

Ian Doyle: Expect fewer changes when Liverpool take on Crystal Palace here in Singapore today. Jurgen Klopp has already said he wants to give more players 45 minutes and that will mean not as many youngsters taking part.

It's still very early days in terms of preparation so there will be mix-and-match sides. Klopp would surprise nobody if he opted to field two separate teams, and there will be zero chances taken on anyone's fitness. That means no Alisson Becker, Joe Gomez or Diogo Jota for me.

The first-half team then sees Adrian in goal, with Isaac Mabaya having another go at right-back, Kostas Tsimikas on the left and Nat Phillips and Joel Matip in the centre. In midfield, Fabinho can be in the defensive role joining Naby Keita and James Milner, and in attack Harvey Elliott is on the right, Curtis Jones on the left and Roberto Firmino central.

For the second half, Harvey Davies can go between the sticks, while there's a strong defence in front of him in Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson. Midfield sees Jordan Henderson joined by Thiago and Fabio Carvalho, while up top Mohamed Salah can go on the right, with Darwin Nunez down the middle and Luis Diaz on the left. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain can also expect minutes.

My first half team (4-3-3): Adrian; Mabaya, Matip, Phillips, Tsimikas; Fabinho, Milner, Keita; Elliott, Firmino, Jones.

My second half team (4-3-3): Davies; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Konate, Robertson; Henderson, Thiago, Carvalho; Salah, Nunez, Diaz.

Senior stars return as Carvalho experiments continue

Sean Bradbury: Jurgen Klopp was not messing when he said the whole squad would be getting game time on Liverpool's pre-season tour.

The 4-0 defeat to Man United saw a whopping 32 players used during the 90 minutes. Whether the boss decides to divide the Palace clash into three chunks with a similar plan remains to be seen. Let's assume he is starting to crank the dial a little more now - and opts for two different teams who will contest a half each.

At the back, a few senior stars could be ready to come in from the off. While Alisson looks set to miss out - and Adrian may replace him - I'll guess at a defence of Ibrahima Konate, Joel Matip, Kostas Tsmikas and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

In the centre of the park, experience and youth combine: James Milner, Tyler Morton and Curtis Jones.

Klopp has spoken several times about the versatility of Fabio Carvalho, and the various positions he can play. Having seen him in midfield on Tuesday, it would be interesting to get a glimpse of him further forward. Carvalho starts on the left of the attack, with Darwin Nunez in the middle and Mohamed Salah on the right.

My team (4-3-3): Adrian; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Konate, Tsimikas; Milner, Jones, Morton; Salah, Nunez, Carvalho.

Nunez and Carvalho to start

Hannah Pinnock: It’s almost impossible to pick a team from such a large squad, but with one pre-season game already done, Klopp may opt for a slightly more experienced starting line-up.

He’ll no doubt rotate the entire side at some point, but I expect there to be just a couple of changes to the team that started against Manchester United. If there’s any doubt over Alisson’s fitness, he’ll be rested with Adrian the one likely to replace him.

Ahead of him I anticipate a mix of youth and experience with Mabaya keeping his place alongside Gomez, then Konate and Tsimikas to come in. I feel keeping the midfield three of Henderson, Morton and Carvalho is a good option.

We caught a glimpse of how new signing Carvalho can link up with Diaz on the wing, so I’m sure we’ll get to see more of that partnership. Elliott could keep his place, but with Nunez coming in for Firmino.

My team (4-3-3): Adrian; Mabaya, Gomez, Konate, Tsimikas; Henderson, Morton, Carvalho; Diaz, Elliott, Nunez

Time for something new

Mark Wakefield: Klopp has hinted in recent days that the signing of Nunez could lead to new tactics for Liverpool going forward. It’s about time we got to see that in action.

We’ve become accustomed to seeing a 4-3-3 from Klopp, but could we see a 4-2-3-1 instead? It’s an idea that is worth trialling out at pre-season, that’s for sure.

With Alisson a doubt, I’d give Harvey Davies a go between the posts. The in defence I'm keen to see Isaac Mabaya given another chance to impress at right-back after he showed promising signs against Manchester United.

The rest of the defence would see Kostas Tsimikas, Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip included. Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold can be introduced in the second half.

Midfield will be interesting with the new formation. In the double-pivot I'm going with Thiago and Morton to start things off, which can then be changed to either Fabinho, Jones, Milner or Keita later on.

In that three behind the striker, from right to left, I’m going with Salah, Carvalho and Diaz. Carvalho’s favoured role is in the No.10, so let’s see what he’s got. Harvey Elliott will also be handed a chance in the second half.

That leaves Nunez to play as the main striker. It’s the role and the system that helped him score plenty of goals with Benfica, so let’s see if it helps him the same here at Liverpool.

My team (4-2-3-1): Davies; Mabaya, Konate, Matip, Tsimikas; Thiago, Morton; Salah, Carvalho, Diaz; Nunez.

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