Liverpool go in search of back-to-back Premier League wins at Anfield on Sunday, with Nottingham Forest the visitors.
With eight changes being made for Thursday’s thrashing of Toulouse, Jurgen Klopp is set to shuffle his pack again.
Here’s the XI we expect the Liverpool manager to put out.
Defence
Having recovered from injury, Caoimhin Kelleher got some much needed minutes mid-week. But there’s no chance of him replacing Alisson Becker for this one.
One of those who will keep his place is Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was perhaps a surprise starter in the Europa League.
At centre-back, Klopp has a little decision to make. But having left Ibrahima Konate out of the squad entirely on Thursday, we think the Frenchman will return here.
Konate struggled against the physical Taiwo Awoniyi in this fixture last season. In the words of ESPN‘s Frank Leboeuf though, he has generally been ‘exceptional’ over the past two years. He’s still in Liverpool’s best XI.
So is captain Virgil van Dijk, who will partner Ibou. At left-back, it would be a big surprise not to see Kostas Tsimikas return.
Midfield
Given that Curtis Jones is serving the final game of his suspension here, Klopp’s options for midfield are slightly more straightforward.
Both Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai sat out of Thursday’s win and are sure to come back.
Elsewhere, it seems to be a toss up between Ryan Gravenberch and Jones for the final slot.
With the Scouser suspended though, Gravenberch should get the nod. He’d deserve it too, he was brilliant against Toulouse.
Attack
Up-front is usually the trickiest position for Klopp to pick and that’s no different for this one.
After three of the four attackers to feature for Liverpool on Thursday scored, they’re mostly in good form. The one who isn’t is arguably Luis Diaz, but he should be fresh and will return tomorrow.
Mohamed Salah is course a definite to play, while we think Klopp will reward the brilliance of Darwin Nunez with another start.
After scoring and playing well on Thursday, Diogo Jota is unlucky to miss out. The £45m man has a great record against Forest, too.
But with Cody Gakpo also available from the bench, both will probably get on at some point during the afternoon.
Liverpool’s predicted XI vs Nottingham Forest: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
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£17m Premier League forward admits he’s dreamt of playing at Anfield for Liverpool
Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has claimed that he’s ‘dreamed’ of playing for Liverpool at Anfield.
Awoniyi has been a great player so far for Forest, scoring 13 Premier League goals since signing for £17m in 2022.
Had things been different, the Nigerian could have been hitting the net for Liverpool. Having joining the Reds in 2015, work permit issues prevented him from ever playing for the club.
Now, with Forest due at Anfield tomorrow, Awoniyi has been talking to liverpoolfc.com about his past dreams of playing for Liverpool.
“It’s been a long journey!” says the 26-year-old, of his rise to being a fully fledged Premier League striker.
“Last season playing at Anfield was a dream come true. Of course I probably dreamed of playing there for Liverpool before I left, so playing there against them, it was a mixed feeling, I would say!”
Awoniyi shares Anfield dream
Having been denied a career at Liverpool, it’s fantastic to see Awoniyi doing so well at Forest.
Although it throws up questions of why the Reds didn’t eventually keep him, it does vindicate their decision to take a chance on him all those years ago.
After the Nigerian scored the winner against them at the City Ground last season, Liverpool know just what a handful he can be.
Still only 26, it feels as though if Awoniyi can kick on again this season he could still get himself a bigger move.
Even if that does turn out to be the case though, his chances of playing for Liverpool at Anfield have surely ended.
Nevertheless, with Awoniyi having recovered from a recent injury issue, he looks set to feature tomorrow.
The Reds will have to be careful of him. The Nigeria international gave Ibrahima Konate a torrid time last year, and the Frenchman will have to be right at it on Sunday.
But with Liverpool in fantastic form at home, the odds are still heavily weighted in their favour.
That won’t stop Awoniyi doing his best to fulfil another dream though – scoring at Anfield. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.
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