Liverpool are next up against Everton in the Premier League with Jurgen Klopp facing some selection posers...CONTINUE READING
Liverpool earned back-to-back victories for the first time this season with a dramatic triumph over Newcastle United at Anfield on Wednesday.
Fabio Carvalho and Roberto Firmino netted as the Reds came from behind to win 2-1. Liverpool will now look to move into the top four for the first time this campaign when they make the short journey across Stanley Park to take on Everton at Goodison in Saturday’s early kick-off.
And here we look ahead to the changes Jurgen Klopp could make when his team are next in action.
Full-back question
Having struggled with availability in the opening weeks of the season, Klopp has scope to make changes in the defence on Saturday. And there have been signs he may be willing to consider them.
Both Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold were substituted against Newcastle with their replacements, Kostas Tsimikas and James Milner, contributing to Liverpool’s victory. Tsimikas would be the alternative to Robertson against Everton but, with Milner likely to be needed in midfield, any change at right-back would perhaps involve Joe Gomez shifting across.
That would be made possible by the return of Joel Matip as an option in central defence alongside Virgil van Dijk. Nat Phillips is the other centre-back on which Klopp could call.
In goal, Alisson Becker remains first choice although Caoimhin Kelleher is close to again challenging Adrian for the role of deputy.
Henderson problem
The news Jordan Henderson most likely faces a spell on the sidelines came as a major blow to Liverpool with Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain already out.
Henderson began alongside Fabinho and Harvey Elliott against Newcastle, with Carvalho later introduced to matchwinning effect from the bench. The Portuguese’s hopes of starting in the engine room may hinge on a switch to 4-2-3-1, for which there has been little appetite from Liverpool this season.
Milner is a possible replacement for Henderson while Curtis Jones, an unused substitute at Newcastle, could make his first outing of the season and offer younger legs. It seems unlikely any deadline-day signing will be thrown in from the start at Everton given they would have only signed barely 36 hours earlier.
Nunez or not?
The big call is whether to recall Darwin Nunez to the starting line-up with the Uruguayan having served his three-match suspension.
Roberto Firmino, who has instead been leading the line, has netted three goals and provided three assists in his last two outings but has never scored in 12 outings against Everton, the only one of 32 teams he has played against at least seven times and failed to net.
Diogo Jota seems unlikely to start having not yet kicked a ball this season due to his recent hamstring issue, meaning Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah are poised to once again be asked to mine the flanks. Carvalho could be an option on the left, however.
