So after a disappointing result in midweek, the Reds return to Premier League action as they host Burnley in a 3pm kick-off on Saturday.
If the last league game following on from a Champions League match is anything to go by, Jurgen Klopp will ring the changes. However, with a League Cup match in midweek and a chance to rest the big names there, this predicted line-up becomes slightly more difficult.
Here is my guess at how the Reds will line up anyway:
SIMON MIGNOLET
Jurgen Klopp has made it fairly clear that Simon Mignolet will play the league games and Loris Karius in the Champions League. He claims he is very happy with both goalkeepers but it is more likely that he isn’t convinced by either.
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD
With Joe Gomez’s Champions League suspension meaning Trent will start in Moscow, it is expected that Gomez will play the games around the next CL fixture. This is the perfect game for Trent though, he will be able to use his superb attacking ability to offer us an important outlet against a very solid Burnley side. Alexander-Arnold’s dead ball threat could also be a key weapon in the type of game the Reds notoriously struggle in.
JOEL MATIP
Matip has enjoyed a relatively decent start to the season and will play on Saturday. His height could be key in stopping the in-form Chris Wood.
DEJAN LOVREN
Despite a horrendous error leading to Sevilla’s first goal in midweek, the Croatian centre-half will surely retain his place at the weekend. Lovren was rested at Manchester City so should have a bit extra in his legs than some of the others. A lot of Liverpool fans want to see Joe Gomez given a go at centre half but I suspect Klopp will see the League Cup tie on Tuesday night as an opportunity for that.
ANDREW ROBERTSON
Although Alberto Moreno put in an arguably man-of-the-match performance against Sevilla, Scottish international Andrew Robertson was bought specifically with matches like this in mind. His crossing quality was there for all to see against Crystal Palace as he put in several superb crosses. The gaffer may stick with Moreno after his midweek display and use Leicester as a way of keeping Robertson happy with minutes but my guess is that Robertson will be given the nod at full back which would provide us with two good outlets at full-back.
JORDAN HENDERSON
The captain got a fair amount of stick for his performance on Wednesday night but I think he will be play on Saturday to add some balance to the midfield. Will have an important job to do in picking up second balls as Burnley are likely to play off target man Chris Wood and generally try to turn these types of games scrappy in any case.
JAMES MILNER
The utility man has been used sparingly so far this campaign but I think he will get a start here as he did against Crystal Palace last month. I’m a big fan of Gini Wijnaldum but he can be completely ineffective in games where the opposition play a low block so let’s hope James Milner can add something different to the midfield for Saturday.
PHILIPPE COUTINHO
Although he looked very rusty when he came on against Sevilla, I’d still have Phil in the starting line-up to face Burnley. With Sean Dyche’s back line likely to drop deep in order to prevent our attack from getting in behind, there aren’t many better players in world football to exploit the space vacated.
MOHAMED SALAH
It could have been the plan to give him a rest in this fixture but after Mane’s suspension, Jurgen may feel he needs Salah’s pace and threat on the left hand side even more. Liverpool’s top scorer this season will have a bit of added pressure on him now and will face a stern challenge against the powerful Stephen Ward who has enjoyed a very good start to the season.
DANIEL STURRIDGE
With bags of pace either side of him and the creativity of Philippe Coutinho behind him, Daniel Sturridge will be licking his lips at the prospect of starting at the weekend. As good as Roberto Firmino has been this season, the upcoming fixture is more suited to an out-and-out number nine in my opinion and I still believe Sturridge has a huge part to play this year.
ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN
Reports suggested one of the reasons Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain chose Liverpool was the opportunity to play in his favourite position – central midfield. However, playing Chamberlain on the right will make up for the pace lost in Mane’s absence, if not the footballing ability. It could be Chamberlain midfield with Coutinho on the left but Jurgen will want the added creativity in the middle of the park which is why I think the former Arsenal man will make his first start for the Reds out wide on Saturday afternoon.
SUBSTITUTES:
Not the same firepower on the bench which we had at our disposal on Wednesday evening. It would seem that Roberto Firmino would be the obvious substitute if we were in need of a goal but keep an eye out for Dominic Solanke. Having just turned 20 this week, the big striker made a huge difference coming on against Crystal Palace in August, forcing a mistake for Mane’s goal in the narrow 1-0 victory.
