Jurgen Klopp faces Darwin Nunez decision as Liverpool’s delightful midfield duo emerge
A look at how Liverpool could line up when they visit West Ham United on Wednesday night
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With just over a month to go until the end of the season at Liverpool, they have seven games left before the final whistle on May 28.
After four games unbeaten in a nervous 3-2 triumph over Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon, the Reds travel to West Ham United on Wednesday night to close the gap on the first four to six points.
With a sparse fixture list lately, Jurgen Klopp has been reluctant to make any changes to his squad and has maintained the same line-up for the past three games. He was able to do so largely due to the schedule which saw his side only play three times in two weeks. a far cry from last season’s efforts at this stage of the campaign.
But with the visit to the London stadium marking a relatively quick turnaround from Saturday’s win over Forest, Klopp is likely to make some changes in the capital.
As for the back five, Klopp is expected to line up with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson ahead of Alisson Becker in goal. Kostas Tsimikas may have to replace Robertson, but the Scottish captain is likely to take the hammer.
It was fascinating to watch Alexander Arnold’s experience up close over the past few weeks. The No.66 basically tries to play two positions at once: as a central midfielder when in possession and as a right-back when out of possession. tactical tweak that caters to those requesting the defender be moved to midfield. midfielder, and with four assists in his last three games, he’s certainly the one working right now.
Expect this feature to be important against West Ham. It is the midfield that, as always, will provide the greatest selection questions. No Stefan Bajcetic, of course, following his season-ending injury, while Harvey Elliott has been more or less taken off the line in recent weeks having featured in every game leading up to Chelsea’s goalless draw nearly two weeks ago.
Thiago Alcantara could get his first start since a 3-0 defeat at Wolves on 4 February after coming on as a second-half substitute against Leeds and Forest last week. With Alexander-Arnold floating in midfield, the prospect of the pair breaching the opposition defense with their sublime passing distances is a fascinating prospect.
Will Klopp opt for the former Bayern Munich player in London? If he does, it could mean a break for Curtis Jones, who has started the last four games since the draw at Stamford Bridge on April 4. The England Under-21 international is still struggling with the stress issue in the shin of his right leg, so despite his striking performances in recent games, a break could be on the cards.
Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Arthur Melo were absent from Saturday’s squad, so it would be a huge surprise if anyone from that trio were named in the line-up against the Hammers.
Klopp is likely to provide the latest on the fitness of the three at his press conference on Tuesday, but it looks like they are entering the final weeks of their respective careers on Merseyside.
Should Thiago start, there could be a chance to give captain Jordan Henderson or Fabinho a break against David Moyes’ side who celebrated an impressive 4-0 win at Bournemouth on Sunday. With Tottenham Hotspur arriving at Anfield this weekend, giving the skipper a rest before that big game for Liverpool’s top four could be an option.
Furthermore, it would be a shock to see Diogo Jota dropped from the squad, given his four volleyed goals last week in matches against Leeds United and Nottingham Forest. The Portuguese international has mostly been injured this season, so a third start in nine days can be weighed against the merits of his purple seat, but the former Wolves star is a huge threat at the moment.
The same goes for Mohamed Salah, who himself scored three goals in matches against Leeds and Forest. Now down to 27 for the campaign, the Egyptian will have serious plans for another 30-goal season. He will start to the right of the top three.
So the primary call for Klopp is: Who’s leading the line? Will Cody Gakpo start again or is there a claim for Darwin Nunez? Klopp spoke on Friday about the Uruguayan international’s need to develop his play on the defensive end, which is why he has been selected from the left in recent weeks.
But with Spurs on the horizon, could this be a match for Gakpo in favor of Nunez with 14 goals? This is another issue that the manager must assess. CONTINUE READING…..
Brighton CEO breaks silence on Alexis Mac Allister’s future amid Liverpool transfer links
Alexis Mac Allister has been linked with a summer move to Liverpool
Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister is believed to be a target for Liverpool this summer (Image: David Horton – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Brighton & Hove Albion CEO Paul Barber has refused to rule out a summer move for world champion and Liverpool-linked midfielder Alexis Mac Allister.
The Reds are the latest Premier League side to be linked with a transfer for the 24-year-old Argentine, despite signing a new long-term deal on the south coast last autumn.
Mac Allister has enjoyed an instant rise to both the Premier League and international stages over the past six months, having played a key role in helping Argentina win their first world title in 36 years in the 2022 final before helping