Jurgen Klopp has vowed to rotate his Liverpool squad for Wednesday’s match against Crystal Palace following the goalless draw at Everton.
Mohamed Salah started and remained on the bench at Goodison Park, while Andy Robertson was absent from Sunday’s 20-man matchday squad with the duo deemed not fully fit.
However, Klopp has confirmed both will feature against Palace, adding “fresh legs” are required given the short gap of less than 72 hours between matches.
“It’s a really special time and in this time, after four weeks’ pre-season and preparation, we cannot ignore that we play again on Wednesday,” Klopp said. “I just can’t [ignore it]. It’s not the last game of the season, so I have to think a little bit about it.”
Klopp’s desire to tinker makes predicting his starting XI against Palace tricky. The German gave little away in Tuesday’s pre-match press conference, but injuries to James Milner and Joel Matip means we will see at least two changes, and arguably a handful more.
Enforced changes in defence
Milner went off with a hamstring injury in the first half at Everton, and Klopp said both he and Matip would be unavailable for Wednesday, meaning Robertson could come straight into the side.
Joe Gomez replaced Milner at the time, but he may get the nod at centre-back despite Dejan Lovren coming on for the injured Matip.
That would see Gomez and Robertson joining Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold in defence – Liverpool’s go-to quartet who have started 12 Premier League matches together this season, including 10 in a row from December to February.
Tougher decisions in midfield and up front
If rotation is the aim, then perhaps Klopp left clues in the substitutions he made against Everton on the weekend.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain took Takumi Minamino’s place at half-time, while Gini Wijnaldum replaced Naby Keita just after the hour-mark.
Klopp may therefore opt to start Oxlade-Chamberlain and Wijnaldum from the off, and both could take their place in midfield with Jordan Henderson given Salah is also returning. That would mean Fabinho joining Keita and Minamino on the bench.
Assuming Salah starts on the right with Sadio Mane on the left, Klopp must decide whether to stick with Roberto Firmino and reunite his famed front three, or twist by bringing in Divock Origi.
Origi for Firmino was another second-half substitution at Everton, and the former could land just his sixth league start of the season to save the latter’s legs.
Premier League fixtures this week
Tuesday 23 June
Leicester vs Brighton, 6pm, Sky Sports Main Event/Sky Sports Premier League
Tottenham vs West Ham, 8.15pm, Sky Sports Main Event/Sky Sports Premier League
Wednesday 24 June
Norwich vs Everton, 6pm, BBC Two
Man Utd vs Sheff Utd, 6pm, Sky Sports Main Event/Sky Sports Premier League/Pick
Newcastle vs Aston Villa, 6pm, BT Sport 1
Wolves vs Bournemouth, 6pm, BT Sport 2
Liverpool vs Crystal Palace, 8.15pm, Sky Sports Main Event/Sky Sports Premier League
Thursday 25 June
Burnley vs Watford, 6pm, Sky Sports Premier League/Pick
Southampton vs Arsenal, 6pm, Sky Sports Main Event/Sky Sports Football
Chelsea vs Manchester City, 8.15pm, BT Sport 1
Beyond Palace, Liverpool do not have another for eight days, meaning Klopp could forgo rotation after all and pick his strongest side.
However, that next match is at Manchester City on 2 July – the evening Liverpool could be crowned champions, and a showdown where Klopp will surely want to let fly on a fully-fresh best XI.
Predicted line-up
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- How Liverpool went from Europe’s best to waiting 30 years for another title
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3fQKuSk
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