Liverpool’s squad against Nottingham Forest featured Thiago and Harvey Elliott on but Darwin Núñe out

Liverpool’s squad against Nottingham Forest featured Thiago and Harvey Elliott on but Darwin Núñe out

Liverpool take on Nottingham Forest in the Premier League later today. Here, three of our writers select the starting eleven we want Jürgen Klopp to pick.

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Liverpool just need to win every game between now and the end of the season. Beat Nottingham Forest and things are looking up after the much needed hammering of Leeds United.

Jürgen Klopp’s side looked much better at Elland Road, building on what he started against Arsenal the week before, with the new role of Trent Alexander-Arnold appearing to be working. Liverpool will presumably try to use that trick again here, with another relegation-threatened side expected to be more than beatable.

With the end of the season in sight, these are the squads some of our Liverpool.com writers would be selecting when the Reds take on Steve Cooper’s Nottingham Forest at Anfield.

This is tricky because I have one eye on West Ham midweek and I also think the team that beat Leeds so well should probably stay. In principle, changes can wait until Wednesday.

The only trade I’m going to make is to bring Joël Matip in for Ibrahima Konaté, just to turn things around. Konaté can return for the match against West Ham.

In midfield, I’m giving Curtis Jones another chance, but Thiago Alcântara can play midweek. And I’ll give Jordan Henderson a break for West Ham by starting Harvey Elliott in a slightly daring midfield trio.

At the top, Mohamed Salah can be joined by Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota. It worked well and Jota needed to keep up the momentum after breaking his goal break meaning Darwin Núñez can come on as a substitute. Luis Díaz will not be ready to start yet, but will hopefully have 20 minutes when the result is known.

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My starting eleven: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Elliott, Jones; Salah, Gakpo, Jota

Expected score: 3-0 for Liverpool.

One thing to watch: Diogo Jota scores again.

James Martin – Fabinho off the line of fire

It’s almost like I’m on defense for Klopp. Alexander-Arnold is now a key choice, with his new key role for the start of recovery.

Konaté’s brief lack of concentration last time out won’t affect his status, but Matip was unfairly reviled for his absence from the starting lineup; He’s also usually a very reliable presence, with a couple of similar mistakes early in the season that saw him eliminated. He can come back as part of a rotation here, with his runs behind a potentially useful tool against the expected deep block. Van Dijk and Robertson keep their places.

For the next two games, Fabinho is one booking away from a two-game ban and he’s been a bit of a yellow card lately. However, he’s back in some form, so Klopp will probably want to make sure he’s available for Spurs in particular.

That would justify him sitting out here; Thiago is an underrated number six and can certainly do his job with Alexander-Arnold backing him up.

Ahead of them, once again in preparation for very deep running Nottingham Forest, could be a good time to try out Elliott and Jones as “octo-twins” for the first time.

Hopefully that duo should be able to bring in a lot of creativity, albeit at the expense of experience.

legitimate elite options at his disposal. It’s hard to knock anyone out of the Leeds match, but Núñez also made a good argument.

With the midfield already full of creators, Gakpo may be able to skip this shot in his false nine, with the more traditional Núñez reinstated in the centre. It will likely be a few more matches before Díaz enters contention, leaving Jota free to build on his drought-making performance.

My starting eleven: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Thiago, Elliott, Jones; Salah, Nuñez, Jota

Expected score: 1-0 for Liverpool.

One thing to watch out for – a terribly contained affair against a deep defense but Liverpool are rediscovering their talent to find a way. David Comerford – Just one change after a hugely encouraging wine

Konaté may have made a mistake against Leeds, but his overall performance was still good, so there’s no reason to leave him here. There is discussion for Tsimikas at left-back, but with the extra rest Robertson can probably restart.

My modification would be in midfield. Henderson has played quite well at Elland Road but for me Thiago should start now that he is fit again. You can’t abandon Jones after his best performance in ages, but I would move him to the other side of midfield. He might actually be better suited for that more advanced role on the right flank ahead of Alexander-Arnold.

And although Núñez scored from the bench in midweek, you’ll have to pick the same front three after they let off steam. Díaz won’t be ready to start just yet, but hopefully he can play a bigger role off the bench.