Thiago Alcantara is set to come in for Curtis Jones while Joel Matip will be in contention to feature when Liverpool face Manchester United on Sunday.
Liverpool will be eager to reclaim top spot in the Premier League standings when they play hosts to table-toppers Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday evening. And, Jurgen Klopp could be set to welcome back a key player in his side’s latest fixture.
While the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Kostas Tsimikas, Naby Keita and Diogo Jota remain on the sidelines due to their respective injuries, the good news comes in the form of Joel Matip’s possible return for Liverpool against Manchester United.
The Cameroonian has trained in the lead-up to the top-of-the-table clash and will be in contention to make the starting lineup. During his pre-match press conference, Klopp provided an update on the centre-back and whether he will be fit to feature against Manchester United.
“Joel is close. Does it now make sense to throw him into a game with one or two sessions, which he didn’t do yet, but today and tomorrow he might be involved? To bring him [in], I don’t know. We have to see, we have to decide, we have to look at him and how he will train, how he looks in training and these kind of things.”
Judging by Klopp’s comments, it looks like he will take a late call on Matip’s place in the starting lineup. The magnitude of the fixture, though, could force his hand, meaning the 29-year-old could join Fabinho at the heart of the Liverpool defence.
If Matip is not fit enough to start, though, Nat Phillips will likely take his place after the experiment to play captain Jordan Henderson at the back failed remarkably against Southampton. Out wide, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson are certainties, with Alisson Becker set to take his place in goal.
Up ahead in midfield, Henderson will be stationed at his regular holding midfield slot and will have a big role to play against Manchester United talisman Bruno Fernandes. The Liverpool captain will be supported by Georginio Wijnaldum and Thiago Alcantara, who is set to make his Anfield debut in red.
Finally, in attack, there is no looking past the formidable trident of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, especially in the absence of Jota. The likes of Xherdan Shaqiri, Curtis Jones, Takumi Minamino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Divock Origi will be the backup options for Liverpool.
Liverpool Predicted XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; Thiago, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane
