Liverpool’s squad against West Ham featured Darwin Núñez and Thiago in and Ibrahima Konaté out

Liverpool’s squad against West Ham featured Darwin Núñez and Thiago in and Ibrahima Konaté out

Liverpool take on West Ham United in the Premier League later today. Here, three of our writers pick the starting XI we want Jürgen Klopp to pick.

Liverpool may have won their last away game, but visiting West Ham United could be far more complicated than hammering away at a pathetic Leeds United.
For most of this season, Liverpool have struggled with bottom-half fixtures away from Anfield and today’s fixture is said to be the Reds’ toughest game remaining.

Jürgen Klopp has a lot on his mind in terms of squad selection, and it is not yet known whether Ibrahima Konaté will be fit enough to suffer a knock. Thiago Alcântara could make his first start since the defeat against Wolves on 4 February, while Luis Díaz should see some more action off the bench and Darwin Núñez hopes to break into the starting XI.

These are the teams some of our Liverpool.com writers would pick at the London stadium.
Matt Addison – Returns Núñez

The big question is whether Konaté will be fit enough to play.I thought there would be some tweaks for this game anyway, but the Frenchman’s height will come in handy. If he can’t play, it should be Joel Matip over Joe Gomez because of his air quality. The rest of the back four should stay the same.

Difficult again in midfield. I will bring Thiago to the center and play against him with Fabinho and Jordan Henderson. There’s a temptation to try Harvey Elliott there, but I’ll wait until the weekend for that. Height and power are more important for this competition, so I’m picking what was the top-pick trio not too long ago. In attack, Diogo Jota just has to stay inside.

Mohamed Salah will also play from the right. In between I will eliminate Cody Gakpo (may start on weekend) and play against Darwin. It’s tough, but Liverpool conceded a lot of goals away to West Ham and I see Núñez enjoying himself in defence.
My starting eleven: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté (or Matip), Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Nuñez, Jota

Expected score: 3-1 for Liverpool. One thing to note: each of the front three finds the back of the net.
James Martin – Elliott’s Return

In defense, the only real question mark is Konaté, while the others select themselves. Klopp shouldn’t take any risks here as Matip has been unfairly vilified by the team in his absence – he remains a hugely capable option and can be sure to fill in here.

Alexander-Arnold will no doubt continue in his hybrid role and it would be interesting to see him form a double pivot with Thiago rather than Fabinho. It still has plenty of defensive bite, but it’s also a real creative hub. In front of them, Curtis Jones has been doing well lately, but Elliott has done very little to lose his place and is certainly worth a try in this revamped midfield.

He can enter here alongside Henderson’s experience.

At the top, Salah has never been let down, a status Jota has certainly earned over the past few games. This leaves only one place and it must surely go back to Núñez who has had the misfortune to be on the bench so much lately.

My starting XI: Alisson; Alexandre-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Thiago, Henderson, Elliot; Salah, Nunez, Jota

Expected result: 2-0 to Liverpool.
One thing to note: Elliott would enjoy the new midfield role. Mark Wakefield – Núñez must start while Jota rests

Another away game for Liverpool and while it is hoped it will be a similar story to the one against Leeds United, the reality is that it won’t happen again. But you never know, I guess.
There will be a lot of talk about whether Luis Díaz should start, but I would continue to be cautious and leave him on the bench. Sunday’s game against Tottenham Hotspur could be a straight return in the race for Europe, so now may be the best time to give the Colombia international his first start after recovering from injury.

Since Konaté has doubts, I wouldn’t take any risks and put Matip in his place. However, there will be at least one change in midfield.

Jones has played a lot of football in recent months after recovering from injury and given the number of games to come, it might be prudent to rest the 22-year-old for this trip to London. As a result, I would give Thiago his first start since returning from a hip flexor injury, but would stick with Fabinho and Jordan Henderson to gain some of the experience needed for a tough away game.

I would apply the same approach to Jota. Although he has scored four goals in the last two games, I would give him a break to be fit against Tottenham this weekend. If I were Jota, I would start Núñez, who regrets having started only once in the last five games. To support him, Salah and Gakpo would be my other options

My starting XI: Alisson; Alexandre-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo.
Expected result: 2-1 to Liverpool.
One thing to watch: Darwin Núñez scores a goal