Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones will start for Liverpool against Union Saint-Gilloise for their final UEFA Europa League group-stage clash.
Liverpool will look to continue their impressive run of form and finish the group stages on a high when they take on Union Saint-Gilloise at Stade Joseph Marien on Thursday evening. The Reds have already progressed through to the knockout rounds of the competition, and a win here will add to their confidence and momentum.
The away side have a number of injury problems heading into this contest. Thiago Alcantara, Andrew Robertson, Stefan Bajcetic and Joel Matip are long-term absentees for the Reds. Diogo Jota has resumed training, but the Portuguese international is unlikely to be risked here.
Meanwhile, Alexis Mac Allister is sidelined with a knock he picked up against Crystal Palace this past weekend. Jurgen Klopp discussed the topic of Mac Allister’s injury during his pre-match press conference.
Klopp said, “I am obviously not a doctor but they explain it to me pretty much every day why he is not ready yet and it is obviously a bit more tricky than we thought in the first moment.”
Liverpool will take on Manchester United at the weekend, and they are likely to rotate their side in order to keep the key players fresh. Caoimhin Kelleher should feature between the sticks for the Reds against Union Saint-Gilloise.
Joe Gomez and Kostas Tsimikas will be deployed as the full-backs, and the two players will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Ibrahima Konate is likely to start at the heart of the Reds’ defence alongside Jarell Quansah.
Wataru Endo will start as the defensive midfielder, and he will look to protect the central defence and break up opposition attacks. Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott are likely to be handed a start here. The two players will look at creativity and control to the side on Thursday. Finally, Cody Gakpo will lead the line for Liverpool, with Ben Doak on his right and Luis Diaz on the left.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Gomez, Konate, Quansah, Tsimikas; Elliott, Endo, Jones; Doak, Gakpo, Diaz
