Jurgen Klopp could hand Arthur Melo his Liverpool debut in Wednesday night's Champions League clash against Napoli as his midfield options continue to run thin.
Although the Reds were boosted by Thiago's return to training on Tuesday, it is unlikely the Spaniard will be risked so soon after recovering from a substantial hamstring injury. Liverpool are also without the services of Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, while Fabio Carvalho is a doubt after suffering a dead leg in Saturday's Premier League draw with Everton.
Arthur can help to fill the void in the centre of the park following his deadline-day loan arrival from Juventus and may join the midfield trio alongside Fabinho and James Milner. Young playmaker Harvey Elliott has had plenty of minutes in recent Premier League outings but Klopp may opt for battle-hardened Milner's experience for the challenging clash away at Napoli.
Changes are also expected in defence, even though Liverpool recorded a rare clean sheet in the goalless stalemate at Goodison Park. Andy Robertson appears likely to replace Kostas Tsimikas at left-back and Joel Matip could supplant Joe Gomez as Virgil van Dijk's partner after recovering from his latest injury.
Alisson and Trent Alexander-Arnold appear all but certain to start the group-stage opener as they are two of Klopp's most important players. Mohamed Salah is another starting XI mainstay on the right wing and could continue to operate in a fluid frontline alongside Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz.
Alternatives in attack include Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota, with the latter recently returning to the fold after missing the start of the campaign with a hamstring injury sustained during pre-season. Both forwards came off the bench against Everton but neither was able to make the game-changing impact the Liverpool faithful were hoping for.
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The result left the Reds seventh in the Premier League after an inconsistent start, so they will be hoping to put a smile back on fans' faces by kicking off their Group A campaign with three points. Liverpool had no problem getting out of their group last season, becoming the first English team in history to win all six of their fixtures.
This time round, the Reds are up against Ajax, Napoli and Rangers as they aim to go one better than they did last term, when they were defeated by Real Madrid in the final in Paris. As for Napoli, the Italian club may be without star striker Victor Osimhen, who is struggling with a muscle injury.
Liverpool predicted starting XI against Napoli (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Milner, Fabinho, Arthur; Salah, Nunez, Diaz.
