Liverpool line-up vs Newcastle –  as Konate out with injury? 

The next trip from Liverpool to St. James’ Park and Jürgen Klopp have a number of possible changes to their starting XIs.

The Reds did the double for Newcastle last season but finished fourth, missing out on a Champions League place for the first time since 2016.

Klopp has named an unchanged line-up for the campaign opener at home to Bournemouth but could make the first adjustments to his squad this weekend. The boss told us about the blow to the back injury when he told the media before the trip that he had to choose between two full-backs.

Here’s how Liverpool could line up.

Team news

Here’s what the manager told us before the game:

Ibrahima Konate is a doubt after picking up a muscle injury

Trent Alexander-Arnold struck in form against Bournemouth

Curtis Jones and Thiago are available for Aston Villa

Alexis MacAllister can play after suspension lifted

Liverpool XI v Newcastle

LONDON, ENGLAND – Sunday 13 August 2023: Ibrahima Konaté of Liverpool during the FA Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC at Stamford Bridge. The game ended in a 1:1 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Konate’s latest injury makes life difficult for the head coach’s defensive options, with either Joel Matip or Joe Gomez filling in if the Frenchman misses out.

If Matip gets the nod, the Reds will line up with the same back four that started the 2019 Champions League final in Madrid more than four years ago.

However, Liverpool’s successful appeal against Mac Allister’s ban will make things easier in midfield.

On the unchanged side, Cody Gakpo had Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah in the front three in the first two games, but the arrival of Wataru Endo could free up space for Gakpo to return to the front line.

It’s a tough weekend, but Liverpool could look like this:

Gomez replaces the injured Konate along with Virgil van Dijk

Endo makes his first start as a holding midfielder

Gakpo starts at center forward, Mac Allister moves up to No.8

Liverpool’s line-up would be as follows:

Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, MacAllister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz

Although he has not trained since Tuesday, Konate has not been completely ruled out and is likely to feature if he is deemed fit enough. The Reds also have a number of options, with Darwin Nunez looking to repeat his goals for St James last season in what would be his first start of 2023/24.

As a result, we might see something like this instead:

Konate will keep his place at center back

Nunez leads the line in the center in place of Jota

Diaz and Salah remain widely in the top three

Here’s what a different configuration would look like:

Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, MacAllister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Diaz

It hasn’t been an easy start away from home, but a 2-0 win at Tyneside in February should give the Reds confidence they can make another big run.

Klopp will have plenty to think about ahead of the trip to Newcastle, but the abundance of attacking options means Liverpool should have more than enough firepower to cause the Magpies problems.