Captain Jordan Henderson is in contention to feature while Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino should start when Liverpool take on Brighton & Hove Albion.
Liverpool will be looking to bounce back from their midweek defeat in the UEFA Champions League when they lock horns with Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
And Jurgen Klopp has been handed a timely injury boost ahead of the game, with Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson returning to training after missing the last two matches with an injury. However, the manager was coy over the possibility of the Englishman being involved against Brighton.
“Hendo trained yesterday, parts of team training and then had his individual session, so we have to see what we do with that,” Klopp said in his pre-match press conference.
Back to it, @JHenderson ?? pic.twitter.com/40kTovrBXs
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 26, 2020
However, Klopp and Liverpool continue to make do without the star defensive trio of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk. So, Joel Matip will once again have to start at the heart of the Reds’ defence, but he will have Fabinho for his partner who was benched for the midweek game.
James Milner, who put on quite a performance at right-back against Leicester City, should return to the same position after featuring in midfield against Atalanta in Champions League. Andrew Robertson, who was another player that was given a breather in midweek, ought to return at left-back. Alisson will make his 100th appearance in goal for Liverpool.
Moving to midfield, while Henderson’s return does come as good news, the Premier League champions will once again have to contend with the absence of star summer signing Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita. And, with an important Champions League fixture against Ajax coming up in a few days, there is a chance that Klopp might not risk Henderson either.
This could pave the way for academy product Curtis Jones, who has been quite impressive this term, to start once again in midfield. The youngster should have Georginio Wijnaldum as his partner in the double pivot for the Reds even though the Dutchman has reportedly rejected a new contract from the club as he pushes for a move to Barcelona.
Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino were both benched for the midweek game against Atalanta, but ought to return to the starting XI on Saturday. The Portuguese international, who has made a brilliant impact, ought to line up on the right flank, with Firmino set to operate as the No. 10 in Liverpool’s 4-2-3-1.
The remaining two attacking slots fill themselves with the star duo of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, with the latter spearheading the Liverpool attack against Brighton.
Liverpool Predicted XI: Alisson; Milner, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; Jones, Wijnaldum; Jota, Firmino, Mane; Salah
Am not comfortable with that midfield
That’s brilliant