Georginio Wijnaldum could make his final Liverpool appearance while Diogo Jota will be in contention to feature when the Reds face Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Liverpool will be hoping to clinch a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League when they play hosts to Crystal Palace at Anfield on Sunday evening. And, Jurgen Klopp has more or less the same squad at his disposal as he did earlier this week against Burnley, heading into his side’s final fixture of the season.
The only semblance of good news is the possible availability of Diogo Jota, who will be subject to a late call to determine his availability to take on Crystal Palace. However, the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez, Ozan Kabak, Caoimhin Kelleher, Jordan Henderson and Divock Origi all continue to be on the sidelines for Liverpool.
Klopp did speak about Jota when in conversation with the Liverpool media, saying, “I don’t know yet. It all looked good and he will probably train today – that was the plan yesterday. And when he can train, we have a look how he trains and then we make a decision if he will be involved.”
Judging by Klopp’s comments, it looks like Jota is unlikely to make the starting lineup even if he is deemed fit to have recovered sufficiently from a foot injury. So, the Liverpool attack should once again comprise of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, who will look to win his third Premier League Golden Boot on Sunday.
As for the midfield, Thiago Alcantara has been much improved this month while Fabinho is an essential component in the middle of the park. The duo should, therefore, retain their places in the three-man midfield unit, with Georginio Wijnaldum and Curtis Jones practically competing for the final spot, even though Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain impressed in his cameo against Burnley.
Wijnaldum, though, should be the one to get the nod ahead of Jones and the rest of the Liverpool midfielders, as he looks set to make his final appearance for the Reds ahead of a possible Bosman move this summer. Meanwhile, the four defenders and the goalkeeper pretty much pick themselves.
With van Dijk, Gomez, Matip and Kabak all on the sidelines, Rhys Williams once again becomes an automatic pick to partner Nathaniel Phillips at the heart of the Liverpool defence, with Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold being the two full-backs. In goal, there is no looking past Alisson Becker.
Liverpool Predicted XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Phillips, Rhys Williams, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Firmino, Mane
