Liverpool have an excellent opportunity to move back to seven points ahead of second-placed Manchester City. Andrew Corns tries to pick the mind of Jurgen Klopp once more.
GK – Alisson Becker
With Liverpool crashing out of the FA Cup and already being out of the Carabao Cup long ago, the chances for Simon Mignolet to feature in the team are minimal at best.
Expect Alisson to start every game from here on out if he remains fit. He along with Virgil van Dijk have been the difference in Liverpool correcting their defensive issues and now finding themselves among the best defences in Europe.
LB – Andy Robertson
New emerged on Thursday that Andy Robertson was rewarded for his exceptional play with a new five-year contract.
Since his arrival from Hull City last summer, Robertson has developed into a world class player and has helped solidify Liverpool’s left side of defence while providing a constant attacking threat with his willingness to push up the pitch and whip crosses into high danger areas.
He’s an automatic selection over Alberto Moreno in every game for the remainder of the season unless scheduling or fitness woes force Klopp to change.
CB – Virgil van Dijk
I could spend an entire day going on about how influential the Dutchman has been since his arrival.
Only at the club for 12 months so far, he’s already one of their all-time best signing in the Premier League era and will go down as a Liverpool legend if they claim the title at the end of the season.
He’s a true leader of men and aside from missing the first leg of Liverpool’s Champions League knockout match against Bayern Munich, don’t expect van Dijk to miss many minutes from here on out.
He’s too important and Manchester City are too close behind to risk resting him.
CB – Joel Matip
Jurgen Klopp will feel relived to have seen Joel Matip return to full training this week and have Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren back sooner than later.
Klopp has had to get creative in defense with so many injuries but will be comfortable slotting Joel back in to partner van Dijk.
Before Matip’s injury, he was performing at his best level since joining the Reds and seemed to have an increased confidence knowing he had license to push up into midfield with Virgil’s protection behind him.
If Matip can shake off some of his injury problems and put together a sustained run in the side, it will only increase a selection headache Jurgen Klopp will be happy to have at centre back.
RB – James Milner
It was unfortunate news hearing Trent Alexander-Arnold will be out four weeks with injury (Jurgen Klopp gave an update on Friday that Trent might recover sooner than expected and will be a gameday decision).
He had a scare in the warmups last weekend at Brighton, but bravely carried on and played the entire match.
Luckily for Liverpool, they have proper cover option in James Milner, Fabinho or Joe Gomez once he’s fully fit next week. I anticipate Klopp wants to utilise Fabinho in midfield where he’s being a more integral piece, so this leaves Milner as the strongest candidate to fill in. Milner is Mr. Versatility and will slot in admirably to fill the void.
MF – Fabinho
Fabinho had a great outing against Brighton starting alongside Virgil van Dijk as a central defender but is clearly more comfortable in his natural position as a defensive midfielder.
It’s taken him a while to get acclimated to both Liverpool’s system and the demands of the Premier League, but we’re starting to see why Liverpool were so decisive in signing him only a few days after their Champions League final loss to Real Madrid.
He’ll sit in as one of the two holding midfielders with Klopp going with the 4-2-3-1 system he has played with the most frequency.
MF – Jordan Henderson
The choices Klopp can select to pair Fabinho in midfield are limited with Milner pegged to play left back, Gini Wijnaldum picking up a minor knock that could keep him out this week and Naby Keita still failing to impress after much anticipation following his arrival.
Jordan is a workhorse on both sides of the ball and while not capturing many headlines, he consistently puts in solid displays even if a contingent of the Liverpool supporters fail to recognise it.
Image via Liverpool FC
MF – Sadio Mane
This pick is one of four no-brainers in attack for Liverpool. Sadio is fit so he’ll start.
Crystal Palace is ideal opposition to let Mane utilise his blistering pace and cause headaches for Palace’s defence.
FW – Roberto Firmino
Another no-brainer pick. Firmino’s evolution as a number ten continues here. It’s still to be determined if this is the optimal position Klopp sees him playing with rumours coming out that Liverpool are weighing options in the number nine and ten positions over the summer.
Regardless of where he plays, Firmino must be one of the first names on the team sheet.
FW – Xherdan Shaqiri
No-brainer pick number three. I expected Shaqiri to be a bigger factor last weekend against Brighton.
I attribute more of this to Brighton playing exceptionally and making life tough for Liverpool’s forwards in general.
This will be a prime chance for Shaqiri to once again prove that he’s been the bargain signing of the season across the Premier League.
FW – Mohamed Salah
Last, but not least is the fourth consecutive no-brainer pick in attack. Mo Salah will believe that he’s the clear favourite to be top scorer in the league after the news that Harry Kane will be out until late-February at the earliest.
Palace have a physical defence but will struggle to handle Salah’s pace and the movement Liverpool’s front four utilise to find space for themselves and each other.
Bank on Salah getting another goal and possibly creating for one or two others as well.
Image via Liverpool FC