Ozan Kabak could make his return to the starting eleven when Liverpool lock horns with RB Leipzig at the Puskas Arena on Wednesday.
Liverpool face RB Leipzig on Wednesday, hoping to preserve their 2-0 advantage in order to advance through to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
The Reds are coming on the back of an awful run of performances that have left them stranded outside the top six. It has put Jurgen Klopp under the microscope as well, with the recent announcement of Joachim Low’s impending departure from the German national team sparking rumours of a potential switch.
Liverpool Vs RB Leipzig Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats
Klopp, though, addressed such speculation in the pre-match press conference, effectively ruling out any possibility of him to join Die Mannschaft:
“If I’m available for the job of the coach for the German national team in the summer? No. After the summer, no. I have three years left at Liverpool this summer, don’t I? It’s a simple statement, a simple situation: you sign a contract and you would normally try to stick to that contract, don’t you?” he added.
As for this particular game, Klopp has been blessed by the return of players like Fabinho and Diogo Jota recently, both of whom are even likely to get the nod in the starting eleven this midweek. Jota, for one, may once again fill in for the doubtful Roberto Firmino. His presence in the side could thus see Mohamed Salah spearheading the Liverpool frontline in the false nine role, with Jota and Sadio Mane operating as the wide attackers.
Additional changes in the setup should see Curtis Jones return to the side at the expense of Naby Keita, thus renewing his partnership alongside Thiago Alcantara and Georginio Wijnaldum at the base of 4-3-3.
Liverpool desperately need stability in the middle of the park after a poor run of results. Interestingly, Klopp remained coy when asked about whether Fabinho was an option in central midfield this midweek, not ruling the possibility of at all.
“I don’t know with Fab. We have to see. I know, but I don’t say it – maybe that’s better, or that’s the truth. But we will see. Yes, it’s an opportunity but having Fab back is in general good,” he said, during the pre-match press conference.
The Brazilian is likely to feature at centre-back, though, as Liverpool continue to miss out on the services of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Jordan Henderson, leaving them devoid of any experience in the defensive department.
The Reds, though, were boosted by the return of new recruit Ozan Kabak this midweek, after the on-loan Schalke defender was ruled out against Fulham. He has travelled with the team to Budapest, making him a huge favourite to start alongside Fabinho at the heart of the four-man Liverpool backline.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is also expected to return to the side at the expense of Neco Williams. The Englishman and Andrew Robertson should occupy their usual full-back positions, with Alisson starting in goal.
Liverpool Predicted XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Kabak, Fabinho, Robertson; Jones, Thiago, Wijnaldum; Jota, Salah, Mane
