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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Paul Gorst

Virgil van Dijk absence explained as Liverpool make SIX changes for Chelsea

Virgil van Dijk misses out through illness and Mohamed Salah drops to the bench as Jurgen Klopp makes six changes for the visit to Chelsea this evening.

Netherlands captain Van Dijk has not travelled with the Liverpool squad meaning Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate start at centre-back as Joe Gomez comes in for Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right.

Kostas Tsimikas completes the back four as Salah is rested up top. Roberto Firmino is expected to lead the line with Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez on the right and left, respectively.

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Curtis Jones makes just his second start of the Premier League season in the midfield three alongside captain Jordan Henderson and Fabinho.

Jones' only other start this term came in the 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest in October - but with Klopp hinting at sweeping changes in his Monday press conference, the Reds boss has kept to that promise in west London.

Salah is joined on the bench by the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cody Gakpo and Andy Robertson as Arthur Melo and Fabio Carvalho are also named alongside Nat Phillips, who is recalled due to the absence of Van Dijk and Gomez being selected at right-back.

Liverpool: Alisson, Gomez, Matip, Konate, Tsimikas, Fabinho, Henderson, Jones, Jota, Nunez, Firmino.

Subs: Kelleher, Milner, Salah, Gakpo, Robertson, Carvalho, Arthur, Phillips, Alexander-Arnold.

Chelsea: Kepa, Fofana, Koulibaly, Cucurella, James, Enzo, Kante, Kovacic, Chilwell, Havertz, Felix.

Subs: Mendy, Badiashile, Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Mudryk, Sterling, Mount, Gallagher, Madueke.

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