Not like another English groups in Europe this season, Liverpool have already sealed their destiny within the Europa League forward of Thursday night’s conflict with Belgian aspect Union Saint-Gilloise.
Jurgen Klopp’s males have already certified for the knockout section and can end prime of Group E whatever the end result on the Stade Joseph Marien and with an enormous Northwest Derby conflict at Anfield towards a wounded Manchester United to come back on Sunday, Klopp will seemingly make adjustments to the beginning lineup that confronted Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
With that in thoughts, right here is Liverpool’s predicted XI for his or her ultimate Europa League group recreation, with 5 potential alterations from the win over the Eagles – amid Klopp’s resolution to depart the likes of Alisson, Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold behind for the journey.
1
GK – Caoimhin Kelleher
Resulting from an damage Alisson sustained within the 1-1 draw with Manchester Metropolis, Caoimhin Kelleher was subsequently handed the reins between the sticks.
The Republic of Eire worldwide featured twice within the Brazilian’s absence within the Premier League, with Liverpool profitable each video games, though Alisson has since returned from damage and began in objective on Saturday afternoon.
Nonetheless, Kelleher has been within the beginning lineup 4 occasions within the Europa League this time period and, given his Brazilian teammate is about to stay on Merseyside, will seemingly function for the Reds in Belgium.
2
LB – Kostas Tsimikas
There’s a excessive likelihood that Kostas Tsimikas might be in Klopp’s first eleven by default.
The Greek defender is Liverpool’s solely out there left-back because of Andy Robertson affected by a shoulder damage which he sustained again in October. It is unlikely that the supervisor will take away Tsimikas from the workforce given the shortage of choices on this space.
3
CB – Ibrahima Konate
Van Dijk began on the again on Saturday towards Palace and was Liverpool’s finest participant, based on This Is Anfield – who handed the Dutchman a 9/10 match ranking.
Nonetheless, Klopp will need to preserve the 32-year-old match for Sunday’s bout towards Man United and thus may deliver Ibrahima Konate into the workforce to get the Frenchman as much as scratch, having not too long ago recovered from a hamstring damage.
Konate may begin on the again this weekend alongside Van Dijk so Klopp will need his £36m defender match match, that means the France worldwide may take the skipper’s place within the workforce for this one.
4
CB – Jarell Quansah
20-year-old Jarell Quansah has turn out to be a first-team common at Anfield resulting from damage woes on the again. Nonetheless, on Saturday, the teenager gave away a penalty for Palace’s objective and was changed within the 57th minute for Konate, having struggled all through the sport, failing to win a single deal with or floor duel whereas additionally popping out on prime in merely 33% of his aerial battles.
Nonetheless, with Van Dijk set to be rested, Quansah may preserve his place for Liverpool’s ultimate match within the Europa League group section.
5
RB – Joe Gomez
Joe Gomez changed Wataru Endo at half-time at Selhurst Park final week and the versatile defender had a wonderful recreation, being handed an 8/10 match ranking by This Is Anfield.
Gomez had 4 touches within the opposition’s field, created one alternative and gained 67% of his floor duels in only one half of soccer and will have assured a beginning spot towards USG on Thursday night.
6
LCM – Ryan Gravenberch
Loanee Ryan Gravenberch earned certainly one of his 5 Premier League begins on the weekend towards Roy Hodgson’s pragmatic aspect, however didn’t make an actual affect on the sport. The 2-time Eredivisie champion solely had a 72% move completion price and didn’t win a single deal with in the course of the match.
Nonetheless, with such a colossal recreation to come back later within the week, Gravenberch will seemingly preserve his place within the lineup once more, significantly since he has began 4 of Liverpool’s 5 matches within the Europa League this time period.
7
DM – Wataru Endo
On Saturday, Endo was changed at half-time by Gomez, with the latter transferring to right-back. In flip, Klopp pushed Alexander-Arnold inside to play as Liverpool’s deepest-lying midfielder.
The top coach has allowed the academy product to float into these areas naturally from his large place however the tactical change noticed Alexander-Arnold function primarily as a holding midfielder.
Endo was dispossessed twice by Palace and made simply 4 passes into the ultimate third within the first half because the Merseyside membership struggled to maneuver the ball ahead. In the meantime, the Englishman created six alternatives which was greater than some other participant on the pitch and performed 14 passes into the attacking third.
That might then imply the Japanese worldwide is changed this weekend in that midfield pivot, though the summer time signing might be spared the axe tomorrow night time, with Alexander-Arnold staying at house.
8
RCM – Curtis Jones
Dominik Szoboszlai did not have the perfect efficiency of his stint at Liverpool on Saturday. The £60m summer time signing had 63 touches of the ball however misplaced possession 9 occasions in complete, failing to create a single alternative while having merely one shot at objective.
With quarter-hour remaining, Klopp took the Hungary worldwide off and changed him with Curtis Jones. Inside simply over a minute on the pitch, the substitute grabbed the help for Mohamed Salah’s equaliser from a set-piece because the Reds cracked on to select up all three factors.
Moreover, regardless of having such little time to get going, Jones gained 67% of his floor duels, had two touches within the opposition’s field and drew two fouls.
Klopp may look to relaxation Szoboszlai, who appeared jaded on the weekend, by giving Jones a run within the workforce after his optimistic affect within the final match.
9
LW – Luis Diaz
Given Klopp likes to maintain his left-back in a deeper place, the left-winger has to carry the width on that aspect.
Admittedly, Luis Diaz appears to be the one participant who can do that within the squad with out being drawn inside and congesting the center of the pitch, therefore why he has began 14 matches for Liverpool this season which can seemingly rise to fifteen away at USG.
10
CF – Darwin Nunez
Towards Palace, 0.48 of Liverpool’s complete 1.25 anticipated targets got here from Darwin Nunez. The Uruguayan had two large probabilities and missed each. Coincidentally, the Reds scored twice as soon as he left the pitch.
Nonetheless, Klopp will want his quantity 9 in good type forward of a go to from the Purple Devils and might be hoping Nunez can bag a couple of targets in Belgium to assist bolster his goalscoring temper.
11
RW – Harvey Elliott
Harvey Elliott modified the sport for Liverpool on Saturday. The £4m signing got here on with 1 / 4 of an hour remaining and drew the foul for his workforce’s equaliser whereas concurrently getting Jordan Ayew despatched off, earlier than bagging the winner in stoppage time.
Elliott has been praised this season for a few of his shows and was even referred to as “top-class” by soccer pundit Lucy Ward, however has began simply seven occasions for the Reds. Whereas Salah is the aspect’s prime goalscorer within the present marketing campaign, Klopp will not need to danger an damage to his Egyptian king and will use Elliott in his place.
Liverpool predicted lineup vs USG in full: GK – Kelleher; LB – Tsimikas, CB – Konate, CB – Quansah, RB – Gomez; LCM – Gravenberch, DM – Endo, RCM – Jones; LW – Diaz, CF – Nunez, RW – Elliott.
