Cody Gakpo will be in contention to start for Liverpool against Toulouse in the UEFA Europa League clash at Anfield on Thursday.
Liverpool will look to make it three wins out of three in the UEFA Europa League when they host Toulouse at Anfield on Thursday night. And Jurgen Klopp has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
The good news is Cody Gakpo is fit and available after recovering from a knee injury he sustained last month. But Andrew Robertson (shoulder), Thiago Alcantara (hip), Stefan Bajcetic (calf), and Ben Doak (muscle injury) remain on the sidelines.
In addition, Curtis Jones will be available after missing the game against Everton this past weekend due to a suspension. Meanwhile, Klopp spoke about Robertson and Gakpo during his pre-match press conference.
He said, “Robbo had surgery and [it] all went well, as good as it could be, so the recovery starts after he wakes up. I think it happened this morning. That’s it. We don’t know how long it will take or whatever, but the first step is done, that’s good.”
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On Gakpo, he said, “Cody is in full training now since Sunday, which means he is available for the squad. Whatever we do with that we will have to see, but that’s good as well.”
Despite Gakpo’s availability, the Dutchman will unlikely start, with Klopp easing him back into the thick of the action. Instead, Darwin Nunez should return to the starting lineup to spearhead the attack. But with Gakpo and Diogo Jota unlikely to start, Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz will be the two wide attackers.
As for the midfield unit, Klopp should make wholesale changes, with the available-again Curtis Jones returning to the starting lineup. The academy graduate will join Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott in the middle of the park. So, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Ryan Gravenberch will get some much-needed rest.
The defensive unit should also see multiple changes, with Kostas Tsimikas being the only player retaining his spot in the backline. The Greek defender will join Jarell Quansah, Joel Matip, and Joe Gomez in the back four. Finally, Caoimhin Kelleher will feature between the stick, with Alisson Becker getting some rest.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Gomez, Matip, Quansah, Tsimikas; Elliott, Endo, Jones; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
