Liverpool is contemplating a total midfield makeover as Jurgen Klopp deals with a defensive conundrum.
The Premier League matchup between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest is coming up, and Jurgen Klopp may have some difficult choices to make.
Liverpool maintained their strong start to their Europa League group with an impressive dismissal of French side Toulouse on Thursday evening.
The Reds had five different goalscorers as they cruised to a 5-1 triumph to move within two points of qualification for the knockout stages of the competition.
Liverpool will now resume their Premier League challenge when they entertain Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon.
And here we look ahead to the changes Jurgen Klopp could make when his team are next in action.
With no new injuries to report after Liverpool’s latest win, Klopp is expected to once again heavily rotate his starting line-up having continued with a ‘midweek’ team for the early rounds of the cup competitions.
Alisson Becker, then, will return in goal in place of Caoimhin Kelleher, with Adrian again available after being ineligible for the Europa League.
Trent Alexander-Arnold will be expected to continue at right-back with Conor Bradley still sidelined.
With Andy Robertson missing for the foreseeable future, Kostas Tsimikas is likely to return at left-back having been rested for full debutant Luke Chambers on Thursday.
However, the versatility of Joe Gomez is such he is an option in both full-back positions and also centre-back, where he started alongside Joel Matip against Toulouse.
Club captain Virgil van Dijk is certain to return to the heart of defence but, with Ibrahima Konate having been rested, there is real intrigue over who partners the Dutchman.
Even with Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic and Bobby Clark out injured and Curtis Jones serving the final match of his three-game Premier League suspension, there remain plenty of options from which Klopp can choose in midfield.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, both unused substitutes against Toulouse, will be expected to start, although whether the latter is at number six or the left of the engine room triumvirate isn’t as cut and dried as previously given a strong showing from Wataru Endo in defensive midfield on Thursday.
Should Endo return to the bench, it will be between Ryan Gravenberch – who has started the last two games – and Harvey Elliott for the final slot unless Liverpool veer from their now accepted box midfield approach.
Youngster James McConnell, who made his debut late on against Toulouse, could also be involved in the matchday squad.
One definite for Liverpool will be the return on the right wing of Mohamed Salah, who now has nine goals in 12 appearances this season.
Less clear, though, is who joins him on the left and down the middle, with all four other senior forwards having strong claims.
Diogo Jota netted the opener on Thursday and scored twice against Forest at Anfield last season, while Darwin Nunez impressed against Toulouse.
Luis Diaz, a regular starter this season, will have benefited from a breather on the bench, while Cody Gakpo made a welcome return to action with a late cameo after missing the last three games with a knee problem.
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