Trent Alexander-Arnold, Sadio Mane, and Luis Diaz will return when Liverpool take on Benfica at Estadio da Luz in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
Liverpool will aim to inch towards the UEFA Champions League semi-finals when they lock horns with SL Benfica at Estadio da Luz in the quarter-final first leg on Tuesday night. And Jurgen Klopp has a full-strength squad at his disposal ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Naby Keita and Curtis Jones are the latest players to overcome minor injuries to become available to take on Benfica. While Keita has shrugged off a knee injury, Jones has quickly recovered from an ankle issue he sustained in the Premier League outing against Watford this past weekend.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s return to fitness will be the most pleasing news for Liverpool, with the English international fit to start. During his pre-match press conference, Klopp confirmed he is taking a fully fit squad to Lisbon to take on Benfica.
The Liverpool boss said, “Yes, full squad available, absolutely. Curtis was just a little swelling, [it] disappeared then overnight, fine. Same with Joel, which is really helpful because it looked really strange. Yes, and Trent trained now four or five days, I’m not sure exactly, but yes, he is ready as well.”
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With Alexander-Arnold ready to feature, Liverpool should line up with the first-choice defensive quartet. Andrew Robertson and Alexander-Arnold will be the two full-backs, with Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk forming the central defensive partnership. Behind the four defenders, there is no looking past Alisson Becker between the sticks.
Up ahead in midfield, Klopp should name his strongest trifecta, despite the upcoming Premier League potential title decider against Manchester City this weekend. Fabinho should thus reprise the anchor role, with Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara being the box-to-box midfielders.
Finally, Klopp will have a major dilemma to overcome in the offensive unit. While Mohamed Salah should retain his spot on the right flank despite a sub-par outing against Watford, the remaining two places will be contested between four players.
But while Diogo Jota was impressive in the win over Watford, the Portuguese international should make way for Luis Diaz on the left flank. Finally, Sadio Mane will likely usurp Roberto Firmino in the central spot of the front three.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Mane, Diaz
