Jurgen Klopp will be forced to make big changes, with Joe Gomez and Harvey Elliott set to start in place of Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara.
Jurgen Klopp will be eager to have Liverpool get their first win on the board this season when the Reds welcome Crystal Palace to Anfield on Monday night. After twice coming back to snatch a point against Fulham, the Merseyside outfit will be hoping for an improved performance, but the team will need changes due to injuries.
Klopp will be forced to make a few shuffles following the latest injuries suffered by two of his key stars. Thiago Alcantara was substituted early in the second half in Liverpool’s season opener, and the Spanish midfielder has suffered a thigh problem, which will keep him out for four to six weeks.
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Meanwhile, Joel Matip has not been in training recently, which casts doubts over the veteran defender’s availability on Monday night. With Ibrahima Konate already ruled out through injury, Klopp will likely pair Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the Liverpool defence.
The Liverpool manager also confirmed during his pre-match press conference that Naby Keita, and Kostas Tsimikas trained during the week and could be part of the squad. Klopp said, “A couple of boys are coming back: Naby will be back for Monday, and Kostas will train today for the first time so that he might be back as well. That’s the situation.”
Keita’s availability may not be enough to warrant a start, but Harvey Elliott, who recently signed a new long-term deal, is pencilled in to replace Thiago in the starting lineup. The youngster will line up alongside Fabinho and Jordan Henderson in the middle of the park.
As for the attacking unit, Klopp could give summer signing Darwin Nunez a start ahead of Roberto Firmino to lead the line against Crystal Palace. The Uruguayan international was key in Liverpool’s comeback versus Fulham, where he scored the first goal and assisted the second strike for Mohamed Salah.
Salah will keep his place on the right-hand side, with Luis Diaz the preferred choice on the opposite flank. With a few players likely to be available against Crystal Palace, Liverpool will have better squad depth from the bench compared to last week, and the Reds will be eager to register their first win.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Elliott, Fabinho, Henderson; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
