{"id":298361,"date":"2023-12-17T05:39:10","date_gmt":"2023-12-17T05:39:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=298361"},"modified":"2023-12-17T05:39:10","modified_gmt":"2023-12-17T05:39:10","slug":"liverpools-expected-xi-vs-man-utd-as-klopp-faces-alexander-arnold-dilemma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/soccer\/liverpools-expected-xi-vs-man-utd-as-klopp-faces-alexander-arnold-dilemma\/","title":{"rendered":"Liverpool’s expected XI vs Man Utd as Klopp faces Alexander-Arnold dilemma"},"content":{"rendered":"

‘The 7-0 was a freak result!’ | Jurgen Klopp previews Liverpool’s clash with Man Utd<\/h3>\n

Liverpool host bitter rivals Manchester United today looking to end back-to-back weekends top of the Premier League table. The Reds are heavily fancied to beat United at Anfield after thrashing them 7-0 the last time they met in March but the visitors will be out to cause a huge shock. Express Sport looks at what line-up Jurgen Klopp could pick this afternoon…<\/p>\n

Goalkeeper – Alisson<\/h3>\n

Caoimhin Kelleher played in Liverpool’s final Europa League game on Thursday – a 2-1 loss to Union Saint-Gilloise – but there is no chance of him starting in goal today. Alisson, who was not in the travelling squad for that match, will return between the sticks.<\/p>\n

The Brazilian will be hopeful of keeping a fifth successive Anfield clean sheet against United. He has just four shut-outs from 14 Premier League matches so far this season, though all of them have come at Anfield and he is on a run of three successive clean sheets at L4.<\/p>\n

Defence – Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas<\/h3>\n

Like Alisson, captain Virgil van Dijk put his feet up back home on Merseyside rather than fly to Belgium. He will start at centre-back with Ibrahima Konate alongside him in the absence of Joel Matip, who is potentially out for the rest of the season.<\/p>\n

Kostas Tsimikas did not play any minutes in Europe so will be asked to help Diaz threaten Diogo Dalot or Aaron Wan-Bissaka down the left-hand side. It has been suggested due to injuries that Trent Alexander-Arnold might start as the deepest-lying midfielder here with Joe Gomez at right-back.<\/p>\n

But the local-born defender, who has been highly influential in Liverpool’s strong recent run, should begin the match in his traditional hybrid role – starting at right-back and moving infield in possession. Klopp will then have the option to switch things up with Gomez among his reserves.<\/p>\n

DON’T MISS: <\/strong> Liverpool boss Klopp explains Man Utd worries as he looks to add to Ten Hag woes<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Midfield – Endo, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai<\/h3>\n

As alluded to, Klopp has somewhat of a dilemma in midfield. That’s due to the absence of Alexis Mac Allister, his go-to holding midfielder this season. But Alexander-Arnold should start at right-back and so the German must then decide between Wataru Endo, Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch in the No 6 position.<\/p>\n

Given Endo came off at half-time in a seemingly pre-planned substitution in the Europa League, the Japanese ball-playing destroyer should get the nod. With Jones playing a full 90 in Belgium, Dominik Szoboszlai – fresh from a rest – and Gravenberch might be the two starting No 8s.<\/p>\n

Klopp then has Jones and Elliott as game-changing subs off the bench. As well as Mac Allister, the Reds are also unfortunately still missing the classy duo of Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic due to injuries.<\/p>\n