Ozan Kabak is set to make his debut for Liverpool while Fabinho and Sadio Mane should return when they take on Manchester City at Anfield.
Reigning champions Liverpool be aiming to get back to winning ways when they face off against Premier League leaders Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday evening.
Ahead of the game, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been handed a timely injury boost as Alisson Becker, Fabinho and Sadio Mane have all returned to training after missing the last game with fitness issues.
Providing an update on their status in his pre-match presser, the German tactician said, “Ali feels much better, good enough to have an individual session today. Sadio and Fab will be in parts of team training today. Then we will see.” However, Liverpool will once again be without the services of Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, Diogo Jota and Naby Keita for the crunch tie.
The returning Alisson should walk right back into the starting lineup, replacing Caoimhin Kelleher between the sticks. There is no looking past the duo of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson in the full-back slots for Liverpool, while the fit-again Fabinho should start as one of the two centre-halves.
The second centre-back slot could see winter deadline day signing Ozan Kabak make his debut for the Reds after having gotten his international clearance. When quizzed on the topic, Klopp was coy in his response, saying: “I don’t know. With our situation, we will see who can play again, who cannot and who should not or who should play again – all these kind of things. Then we will see.”
With Kabak and Fabinho likely to start at centre-back, Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson will return to his natural habitat in the middle of the park. The Englishman will anchor the Reds’ midfield, with Thiago Alcantara and Georginio Wijnaldum flanking him against Manchester City.
Xherdan Shaqiri has featured in the past few games from the kick-off. However, with Mane returning, the Senegalese speedster should get the nod on Sunday evening. He ought to slot in on the left wing, while Mohamed Salah starts on the right flank. Roberto Firmino will take up his customary role through the centre.
Liverpool Predicted XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Kabak, Fabinho, Robertson; Thiago, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane