Ibrahima Konate will replace Joe Gomez, while Roberto Firmino will be on the bench when Liverpool and Napoli meet on Tuesday.
Liverpool are currently second in Group A with 12 points from five group games, and they will be desperate to finish on top when they face Napoli at Anfield on Tuesday night. The Italian giants are at the top of the standings with 15 points from five outings.
Finishing at the top of their group would ensure a more favourable draw in the knockout rounds of the competition. And it will be interesting to see whether Liverpool can grind out a positive result here.
Meanwhile, Napoli have been outstanding, and they will be the favourites based on their current form. They humiliated Liverpool 4-1 in the previous meeting between the two sides this season and will hope for more of the same here.
Speaking to the media during his pre-match press conference, Jurgen Klopp revealed that Ibrahima Konate could play a part after recovering from his knock. The Liverpool boss added that Calvin Ramsay could be in line to make a start as well.
Liverpool vs Napoli Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats
The German tactician also confirmed that Joel Matip is still injured and will miss out. Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, and Arthur Melo remain long-term absentees for Liverpool. Meanwhile, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are not a part of Liverpool’s Champions League squad.
Klopp said, “We will see. Ibou, I think there’s a good chance that he will have a game. And with Calvin, we have to see. That makes now no sense if we have to change a lot of players to bring Calvin in for his first senior [appearance]. Coming on, yeah, for sure – these kinds of things should be possible.”
“But again, I’m sorry that I don’t have more information but that’s how it is, one-and-a-half days after a game. That’s my situation always, you just usually don’t face the press then. So we have to wait a little bit but then in the moment when we know who is ready, then we will make sure that these boys are ready for a proper fight.”
Asked if Matip was available, Klopp simply said, “No.”
Alisson Becker is set to start in goal behind a back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson. It seems unlikely that Ramsay will be thrown into the deep end against Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who is in red-hot form. Joe Gomez is likely to be dropped after a poor showing against Leeds.
In the midfield, Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho should reprise roles in the wide areas. So Roberto Firmino will drop to the bench. Fabinho will partner Thiago Alcãntara in the central midfield. Completing the 4-4-2 will be Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez in the strike partnership. Firmino will be an impact substitute against Napoli.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Elliott, Fabinho, Thiago, Carvalho; Salah, Nunez
