Firmino rides again - Paul Gorst
Tonight offers a major opportunity for Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool aim to belatedly kick-start their season. There’s no better place to do it.
Joe Gomez returns for me at centre-half to mark his first Premier League start in his favoured position since November 2020. Virgil van Dijk partners him with the usual incumbents in goal and at full-back.
In midfield, it’s Naby Keita’s time to shine. Fabinho and Jordan Henderson also start too, even if it is slightly harsh on Harvey Elliott who has made a good start to the campaign.
Up top, Roberto Firmino rides again. The Brazilian was superb at Old Trafford in that 5-0 win way back October of last year and Klopp will need more of the same this evening with Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez both out.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Keita, Henderson; Salah, Firmino, Diaz
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Klopp's hand forced by absences - Ian Doyle
Heads down for the first relegation six-pointer of the Premier League season.
Facetious, of course, but it's still extremely surprising to see Liverpool and Manchester United flailing around towards the bottom of the table, even after just two games each.
Neither has yet won. So what should Jurgen Klopp do?
The fact is he can't really do much. Roberto Firmino is back from the Crystal Palace game, but that's offset by Darwin Nunez being suspended.
In goal, Alisson Becker. Joe Gomez is at least now fit enough to start and can partner Virgil van Dijk at centre-back, with Trent Alexander-Arnold the right-back and Andy Robertson on the left.
In midfield, it's a bit more tricky. However, experience could count so I will go with Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita, with Harvey Elliott getting on at some point. Probably James Milner, too.
Up front, Firmino replaces Nunez, with Luis Diaz on the left and Mohamed Salah on the right. Fabio Carvalho is perhaps the only realistic attacking option from the bench at the moment.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Keita, Henderson; Salah, Firmino, Diaz
Elliott has to do with a place on the bench - Theo Squires
Jurgen Klopp’s hand has rather been forced by injuries ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Old Trafford, but at least the German should be able to welcome a couple of senior players back to his starting XI for this must-win clash with Manchester United.
The back five picks itself, with Klopp already confirming Joe Gomez will start alongside Virgil van Dijk after a knock saw him limited to substitute action against Crystal Palace last weekend.
In midfield, Harvey Elliott impressed against the Eagles but he has to make do with a place on the bench as Jordan Henderson starts on the right with Fabinho sitting. Having put in one of his best ever Liverpool performances at Old Trafford last year, Naby Keita is unleashed on the left of the trio. Given Klopp’s latest comments about his midfield options and the uncertainty around the Guinean’s future, the stage is set for Keita to leave a marker one way or the other.
Meanwhile, Roberto Firmino returns in attack in place of the suspended Darwin Nunez, and is flanked by Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz. If he’s not able to put in a full 90 minutes, Elliott can always come on for him with the Egyptian King moving central. It won’t be 5-0 but hopefully the Reds are poised to kick start their season and deal another hammer blow to the Glazers’ United reign.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Keita; Salah, Firmino, Diaz
Milner and Keita get midfield nod - Richard Garnett
Talk of Liverpool steam-rolling what looks like a pretty awful Manchester United team seems fairly premature, given that the Reds are yet to win a game themselves this season.
That said, they do look in considerably better shape than their old arch rivals, even with a frankly ridiculous Anfield injury list hampering Jurgen Klopp's options.
With Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate both side-lined I'm going with a back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson, in front of Alison Becker. This is a big opportunity for Gomez who has found himself pushed to the fringe of Liverpool's centre-back pecking order. Hopefully he is up to the task.
Liverpool's midfield remains a bit of mystery wrapped in a puzzle. Fabinho is usually an automatic selection at the spine but his inclusion here is for balance more than current form. James Milner was a steady influence against Palace and I am backing him to start again here ahead of Jordan Henderson, who has been eased back into training in the past few days. The Reds need creativity of course and although Harvey Elliott performed well last time out, Naby Keita gets the nod here for this one.
Picking the front three is relatively easy due to a lack of options. With Darwin Nunez suspended and Diogo Jota still out, Mohamed Salah assumes his usual position on the right, with Luis Diaz on the left and Roberto Firmino down the middle. A bit of the old magic from the Brazilian would be timely this evening.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Keita, Milner; Salah, Firmino, Diaz
Elliott decision made - Charlotte Coates
It seems like an age since Liverpool have been in action, but it's game day once again.
With Liverpool not firing on all cylinders, changes could be made by Jurgen Klopp as the Reds look for their first win of the new campaign.
Alisson Becker will remain in goal for the trip to Old Trafford.
In the defence, we'll see one change as Joe Gomez is confirmed to be starting in place of Nat Phillips. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson will make up the rest of the back four.
Fabinho will keep his place in the six, despite not being at his best while Jordan Henderson will come back into the starting XI. Harsh on Harvey Elliott, but he will drop out for Naby Keita's first start of the season.
With Darwin Nunez suspended, Liverpool don't have many options in the front three. Luis Diaz will start on the left after his superb goal against Crystal Palace with Mohamed Salah on the right. Roberto Firmino's return to fitness is timely and he will lead the line.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Keita; Diaz, Firmino, Salah
Keita can answer midfield question - Mark Wakefield
Picking a line-up for Liverpool’s trip to Old Trafford becomes much easier the more injuries that crop up.
Alisson Becker is the first choice in goal, of course, but in defence, Klopp will have very few options at his disposal to change things around. The injuries to Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate mean there are only three fit senior centre backs at the club.
Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are expected to start, while it will almost certainly be Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson as the two full backs.
Midfield has a couple of question marks, but for me Naby Keita just has to start here. His pressing ability will cause United problems, just as he did in the 5-0 win last October.
Even though Harvey Elliott has impressed, I’d go with Jordan Henderson alongside Fabinho for this one. Should the game require a change, he is always an option from the bench with five substitutions available.
The front three picks itself. Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Luis Diaz. There might be an opportunity for Fabio Carvalho from the bench, but I would be astounded if he was to start.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Keita; Salah, Firmino, Diaz
Klopp may need to get creative - Hannah Pinnock
Injuries and suspensions cause quite the headache when trying to choose a team to take on United.
Alisson is a guaranteed starter, while Robertson and Alexander-Arnold will keep their place on either flank. Injuries at centre-back is a concern, but with Van Dijk available he will start. Nat Phillips was decent against Crystal Palace last time out, but there was a noticeable difference in how quickly Liverpool progressed up the pitch when Gomez came on in the second-half. If he's fit, he starts at Old Trafford.
Hopefully Keita will be fit and well to play in a midfield alongside Henderson and Fabinho. He wasn't risked against Palace, that may have been with one eye on this game. There is a shout for Elliott, who was a standout performer against Patrick Vieira's side, but a more experienced head in Keita may be needed here.
If Firmino is fit, with no other options up front, he is guaranteed to start. Diaz and Salah are also nailed on, although Klopp may need to get creative with his attacking options if Firmino isn't fit enough to start.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Keita; Diaz, Firmino, Salah
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