New additions Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies are unlikely to start, but Curtis Jones should get the nod over James Milner when Liverpool face Brighton & Hove Albion.
Liverpool will be aiming to continue closing the gap to the top of the table when they lock horns with relegation-threatened Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield on Wednesday night.
Ahead of the game, Jurgen Klopp continues to be burdened with a host of injury problems. Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez remain long-term absentees while Joel Matip has also joined the duo and will miss the rest of the season. In addition, Diogo Jota, Naby Keita, Sadio Mane and Fabinho are also set to miss out with their respective injury issues.
Speaking of the squad’s injury situation ahead of the game in his pre-match press conference, Klopp said, “It is as it was.” However, the manager has added defensive options at his disposal now, with Liverpool signing two new centre-backs on the winter transfer deadline day.
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Indeed, the Reds brought in Ben Davies from Preston North End on a permanent transfer while Turkish centre-half Ozan Kabak also arrived on loan from FC Schalke. However, neither defender is likely to feature on Wednesday night given that they have little time to bed in with their new teammates.
“We play obviously different to Preston and obviously different to Schalke, that’s clear. They will need time but we don’t have a lot of time. So we will use the time we have in our hands and try our best. So if they would have to start tomorrow night together, I think that would be not too cool. But we will give them a few more days,” Klopp said.
So, it is likely that captain Jordan Henderson starts alongside Nat Phillips at the heart of the Liverpool defence against Brighton. There is no looking past Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson in the full-back slots while Alisson Becker is the undisputed starter in goal.
With Henderson in defence, Georginio Wijnaldum ought to start as the No. 6 for the Reds at Anfield. He will be supported by Thiago Alcantara in the centre, with the Spaniard also looking to dictate play when on the ball. Curtis Jones impressed coming on from the bench last time out and should get the nod over James Milner in the third slot in the centre.
Xherdan Shaqiri impressed in the win over West Ham United and should get the nod in the hole behind the two forwards, who ought to be Mohamed Salah, who is firing on all cylinders again and Roberto Firmino.
Liverpool Predicted XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Phillips, Henderson, Robertson; Thiago, Wijnaldum, Jones; Shaqiri; Salah, Firmino
