As Liverpool considers a new midfield, Jurgen Klopp must make a decision on Ibrahima Konate.
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.
Adrian will then be available once again following his ineligibility for the Europa League, and Alisson Becker will take over in goal in lieu of Caoimhin Kelleher.
As Conor Bradley remains out, Trent Alexander-Arnold is poised to continue at right-back.
Andy Robertson will probably not play again for some time, thus Kostas Tsimikas, who was rested for Luke Chambers’ full debut on Thursday, is expected to start at left back going forward.
But Joe Gomez is so versatile that he can play center back, where he started against Toulouse alongside Joel Matip, as well as full back.
Club captain Virgil van Dijk will undoubtedly return to the center of defense, but who he partners with is really interesting because Ibrahima Konate has been rested.
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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