Caoimhin Kelleher returns while Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane retain their spots as Liverpool prepare to take on Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round.
Jurgen Klopp has made wholesale changes to the side that started in the 1-0 defeat to Southampton in the Premier League earlier this week as Liverpool get set to lock horns with Aston Villa at Villa Park in the FA Cup third round. The first shuffle comes in goal, where Caoimhin Kelleher comes in for Alisson Becker.
In front of Kelleher, Liverpool seem to have lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, with the defence having an almost entirely new look. Fabinho is the only player who retains his spot, with captain Jordan Henderson moving into midfield. In his stead, Rhys Williams starts at the heart of the Liverpool defence, with Neco Williams and James Milner being the two full-backs.
#FACup team news is in… ?️
How the Reds line-up to face @AVFCOfficial ?? #AVLLIV | #FACup
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 8, 2021
Joining Henderson in the middle of the park are Georginio Wijnaldum and Curtis Jones. The Liverpool captain will sit at the base of the three-man midfield, while Jones and Wijnaldum are the box-to-box midfielders, with Thiago Alcantra and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain being backup options for midfield.
Finally, in attack, there is just the one change, with Takumi Minamino starting in place of Roberto Firmino, with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane retaining their spots. Minamino reprises the false nine role, while Salah and Mane will be the two wide men for Liverpool.
Liverpool Starting Lineup: Kelleher, Neco Williams, Rhys Williams, Fabinho, Milner, Jones, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Salah, Minamino, Mane
