Liverpool welcome league leaders Leicester City to Anfield this Sunday evening in what should be an enthralling Premier League clash.
Unfortunately for Jürgen Klopp, his squad has been decimated by injuries and positive COVID-19 tests so far this season. That trend is set to continue when Brendan Rodgers and co arrive on Merseyside this weekend.
With rumours circulating that Roberto Firmino has tested positive for COVID while on international duty with Brazil, we have to wait and hear more substantial evidence regarding that – and any possible knock-on effect on Firmino’s close-contact, Liverpool and Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker. For now, let’s presume Firmino and Alisson are fit and available for selection against Leicester.
Alisson will start in goals for The Reds if there is no COVID concern regarding our number 1.
In defence, Klopp is without Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Gomez and Van Dijk are both out for the bulk of the remainder of the 2020/21 campaign while Alexander-Arnold should return to action in the next three or four weeks.
Young Wales international Neco Williams may well be selected to start at right-back in Alexander-Arnold’s absence. In the centre, Liverpool will be relying on a partnership of Joël Matip and Fabinho. Andy Robertson did have an injury scare during the week but was fit to start for Scotland on Wednesday night so he should be fine for Sunday. Fabinho did get injured a few weeks back but he’s expected to be fit for this weekend.
In midfield, Jordan Henderson was withdrawn from the England squad after a slight muscle injury so it’s unclear if Klopp will risk starting his captain against Leicester City. The good news for The Reds is that Naby Keïta is back in action and scored for Guinea a few days ago. I think Keïta will start as part of the midfield trio alongside Gini Wijnaldum and the veteran James Milner.
Thiago is due back now as well so he could be on the bench on Sunday.
Up front, Mohamed Salah is out following his COVID-19 positive testing. This means that Diogo Jota and Sadio Mané will play on either side of the front three with Roberto Firmino (if COVID test rumours are false) through the middle.
Predicted Liverpool lineup (4-3-3) vs Leicester City: Alisson; Williams N, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Milner, Keïta; Jota, Firmino, Mané
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