Jordan Henderson is a major doubt while Neco Williams and Mohamed Salah are in line to start when Liverpool face Manchester United in the FA Cup.
Liverpool will be aiming to bounce back to winning ways and advance to the fifth round of the FA Cup when they lock horns with arch-rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday evening.
Ahead of the game, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp continues to sweat over the fitness of captain Jordan Henderson, who missed the midweek defeat to Burnley in the Premier League due to an injury. Apart from Henderson, the Reds continue to be without Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Diogo Jota and Naby Keita for the trip to Manchester.
With a crucial Premier League clash against Tottenham looming, Klopp was quizzed about his team selection for Sunday’s game in his pre-match presser, to which he said, “Opposition and competition. We want to win the game, it’s clear. It’s a cup game, the game will be decided that night and we want to win the game. That’s it. That’s how we will make the line-up.”
Manchester United vs Liverpool Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats
That should indicate that the Liverpool manager is unlikely to make a lot of changes to his preferred starting XI against Manchester United, meaning we should see Alisson starting in goal ahead of youngster Caoimhin Kelleher. Joel Matip and Fabinho ought to form the central defensive partnership yet again while Andrew Robertson is a certainty at left-back.
On the right side, however, we might see an alteration after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s disastrous display in midweek against Burnley. The England international could make way for fellow academy graduate Neco Williams on Sunday evening.
While Henderson is a vital cog for Liverpool, Klopp might not look to risk him ahead of a crunch game against Tottenham, which could potentially deliver a major blow to the defence of their Premier League title. Thus, Georginio Wijnaldum could slot in as the No. 6 for the Reds against Manchester United.
Partnering him in the centre of the park should be young Curtis Jones, who will look to drive the team forward and veteran James Milner, who will bring the leadership to the team – something that was sorely lacking in the defeat to Burnley.
Moving into the attacking unit, Klopp all but confirmed that star man Mohamed Salah will start on Sunday after making a substitute appearance against Burnley. “It makes it absolutely likely that Mo will start. I don’t think that is a massive secret,” the manager said.
Like Salah, Roberto Firmino should also return to the lineup after an appearance from the bench in midweek with Sadio Mane retaining his spot on the left-wing for Liverpool against Manchester United.
Liverpool Predicted XI: Alisson; Williams, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; Jones, Wijnaldum, Milner; Salah, Firmino, Mane
