Joel Matip should return to the starting lineup while Naby Keita could replace Curtis Jones when Liverpool take on Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.
Liverpool will be aiming to strengthen their hold of the top spot in the Premier League table when they travel to Selhurst Park to lock horns with Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace this weekend.
Ahead of the game, Liverpool have been handed an injury boost as Joel Matip, who missed the midweek win over Tottenham due to a back problem, was spotted back in training. However, Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that the likes of Thiago Alcantara, James Milner and Xherdan Shaqiri remain unavailable.
Time for training ?? pic.twitter.com/98IaXbaTGC
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 17, 2020
“He [Thiago] gets closer and closer and he is in a good way, but we will not rush it, we cannot rush it and he will not [either] because he is not allowed to rush it. That’s not only for him the case. With Millie it will be similar, with Shaq it will be similar,” Klopp said in his pre-match press conference.
Along with the aforementioned trio, Liverpool continue to be without Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Diogo Jota and Kostas Tsimikas. Given the exertions in midweek, Klopp could make a few alterations to the starting XI when his team take the field at Selhurst Park.
No changes are expected in goal, with Alisson Becker being the undisputed starter. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson are also expected to be retained as the full-backs while Fabinho should continue at centre-back. The fit-again Matip could come in at the expense of Rhys Williams, though, despite the youngster’s top display against Tottenham.
With Fabinho in defence, Jordan Henderson should slot in as the defensive midfielder while Georginio Wijnaldum’s energy and work-rate make him a key figure for the Reds.
Curtis Jones was brilliant in the midweek clash against Tottenham Hotspur. But having been used quite a lot of late, the youngster could be in line for a rest on Saturday, with the fit-again Naby Keita replacing him in the middle of the park against the Eagles.
The attacking trio picks itself in the absence of Jota as Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane are all expected to start against Crystal Palace, although Klopp could look at someone like Takumi Minamino at some stage amidst the fixture pile-up.
Liverpool Predicted XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Keita; Salah, Firmino, Mane
