Liverpool will be without star forward Sadio Mane when they travel to the Villa Park to face off against Aston Villa on Sunday evening.
Liverpool will be aiming to extend their 100 per cent record in the 2020/21 Premier League when they face off against Dean Smith’s Aston Villa in matchweek four this weekend.
However, the Reds have been dealt a major blow heading into the game as star attacker Sadio Mane has tested positive for coronavirus and will miss the game as a result. The Senegalese speedster is the second Liverpool player to test positive after summer signing Thiago Alcantara and the pair are currently self-isolating.
Apart from the aforementioned duo, Liverpool continue to be without the services of Joel Matip, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and new signing Kostas Tsimikas due to injuries.
Sadio Mane has tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently self-isolating according to the necessary guidelines.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 2, 2020
Having rung in the changes for the midweek cup tie, Jurgen Klopp should recall his heavy-hitters for Sunday’s game. That would see Alisson Becker getting reinstated in goal after having made way for Adrian in midweek.
The first-choice full-back duo of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson should also return to the side. Given Matip’s unavailability, Klopp has no choice but to field Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the Liverpool defence against Villa.
There is some good news in the midfield department for Liverpool with captain Jordan Henderson back in full training. Speaking of the Englishman in his pre-match presser, Klopp said, “Hendo will be part of parts of the training today. It is all fine, he is not injured anymore, so now we have to make sure he can make the next step. What that means for the weekend, I don’t know.”
Despite Henderson’s recovery, it is likely that Klopp eases him back into action. That would mean the manager could once again opt for the midfield trio of Georginio Wijnaldum, Naby Keita and Fabinho, who started in the Premier League win against Arsenal a week ago.
Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino pick themselves in the Liverpool frontline for the game against Aston Villa. However, Mane’s absence opens up a spot on the left flank, with new signing Diogo Jota and Takumi Minamino vying for the starting berth.
Minamino has impressed in the new season after a difficult bedding-in period. However, Jota is likely to make his first Premier League start for Liverpool after scoring on his top-flight debut for the Reds against Arsenal on Monday night.
Liverpool Predicted XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Keita; Salah, Firmino, Jota
