Alisson Becker has been ruled out while Mohamed Salah will be making his 100th appearance for Liverpool when they take on Bournemouth this weekend.
After a dreadful week during which they lost two matches, Liverpool will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways when they play hosts to relegation battlers Bournemouth at Anfield on Saturday. But, manager Jurgen Klopp has been handed a major injury blow heading into the game with Alisson Becker ruled out with a muscular problem.
Speaking of the Brazilian in his pre-match presser, Klopp said, “He is not available for the next week, not for tomorrow and not the next week. Then we have to judge the situation new. I would say after the international break he is back 100 per cent, whatever we can get before that we will see.”
Alisson Becker is ruled out of Saturday's @premierleague clash with @afcbournemouth after suffering a muscle injury.#LIVBOU https://t.co/dfVtvCB7Mp
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 6, 2020
With Alisson ruled out till at least the end of the month, Adrian is set to deputise for him between the sticks. There will be a solitary change in defence from the midweek clash against Chelsea in the FA Cup. Trent Alexander-Arnold, who did not start against the Blues, should come back in at right-back at the expense of Neco Williams.
Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson ought to hold on to their places in the Liverpool backline against Bournemouth.
Jordan Henderson’s absence in the middle of the park has hurt Liverpool in recent games. The Reds’ captain is closing in on a return, although he is likely to held back till the Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid next week. Naby Keita, though, has recovered fully from his injury, and will be available for selection.
In Henderson’s absence, Fabinho, who had a poor outing against Chelsea in midweek, will continue at the base of the midfield and look to put in a much-improved performance. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Georginio Wijnaldum, both of whom weren’t part of the starting XI in the cup tie ought to be recalled by Klopp against Bournemouth.
The attacking trident too will see a couple of shuffles with Sadio Mane being the only player retained from the frontline that started against Chelsea.
Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah will return to the side after getting some minutes from the bench in that game. It will be a momentous occasion for Salah, who will be making his 100th appearance for Liverpool, and will want to celebrate the occasion with a goal or two.
Liverpool Predicted XI: Adrian; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane
