Jordan Henderson and Virgil van Dijk return, but Divock Origi misses out with a sore knee as Liverpool prepare to take on Aston Villa at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp has made wholesale changes to the side that started in the 2-1 win over AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League as Liverpool get set to play hosts to Aston Villa at Anfield. There is no shuffle in goal, though, with Alisson Becker starting ahead of Caoimhin Kelleher again.
The defensive line in front of Alisson is changed entirely, with Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip forming the central defensive partnership, while Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson start as the two full-backs. Neco Williams, Ibrahima Konate, Nathaniel Phillips and Kostas Tsimikas drop out.
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This is how we line up to face @AVFCOfficial this afternoon at Anfield!
Divock Origi misses out with a sore knee.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 11, 2021
Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara form the midfield trifecta, with Tyler Morton and Takumi Minamino making way. The third man in midfield in the midweek European fixture was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who starts in the final third.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s role as a wide-attacker has been forced by Divock Origi’s absence through a sore knee. With Diogo Jota not fit to start, Mohamed Salah will spearhead the Liverpool attack against Aston Villa , with Sadio Mane completing the numbers upfront.
Liverpool Starting Lineup: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Salah, Mane
