Joe Gomez will start at right-back and Ibrahima Konate will miss out when Liverpool face Manchester City on Sunday.
Liverpool have enjoyed great success against Manchester City in their recent meetings, and they are unbeaten in five of the last six matches against Pep Guardiola’s side. However, Sunday’s game is a totally different situation, with the Reds struggling since the start of the season.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have a number of injury issues to deal with, and Jurgen Klopp will have to get his team selection spot on. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arthur Melo, Luis Diaz, and Joel Matip are all set to miss out this weekend. Alexander-Arnold, Diaz and Matip picked up injuries in the Arsenal game.
In addition, Konate injured himself in the mid-week against Rangers. And reputed journalist James Pearce has suggested Konate will be a doubt for Sunday. It will be interesting to see what back four Klopp chooses to field without his preferred right back and two centre-backs.
Klopp did not give much away on the team news front during his pre-match press conference. The Liverpool boss replied with a simple “We have to see. There are no final decisions yet but we have to see.”
Liverpool vs Manchester City Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats
Alisson Becker is set to continue in goal after his impressive performances this season. Joe Gomez will start as the right-back in Alexander-Arnold’s absence. Meanwhile, Konate’s absence might force Fabinho to drop down to partner Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the Liverpool defence. Andrew Robertson is expected to start as the left-back after regaining fitness and getting a run out against Rangers.
Klopp is likely to field a 4-4-2 formation again versus Manchester City, and the midfield unit will consist of Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson. Henderson has been quite poor in recent weeks, and Liverpool will need him in top form against Manchester City. The Liverpool captain will be the defensive midfielder here and will need to break up the Manchester City plays and help his side dominate the proceedings.
Meanwhile, Klopp reserved special praise for the in-form Roberto Firmino in his presser. The Liverpool boss said, “Bobby is in a really good moment. I’m really, really happy for him, really, really happy for him. Even when it’s for us obviously not the best moment we’ve ever had, it’s helpful when these boys at least still know where the goal is.”
“We just need to spread the goals a bit more to different games, let me say it like this! We should not focus on one, nine and then seven and then nil – but we know that. How I said, positive things always help all of us and footballers as well.”
Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota will start as the wingers. As for the strike partnership, Firmino will partner Darwin Nunez. Both players scored in their last outing and will fancy their chances at Anfield on Sunday.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Gomez, Fabinho, Van Dijk, Robertson; Salah, Henderson, Thiago, Jota; Firmino, Nunez
