Liverpool face Jose Mourinho’s Spurs side at Anfield tonight in a top-of-the-table clash in the Premier League.
Jürgen Klopp’s Reds are second in the league, just behind Spurs on goal difference. Wednesday night’s game will be a huge test for Liverpool after their disappointing showing in the 1-1 draw at Fulham on Sunday. We’ve had a look at what starting eleven Klopp may go with as he navigates his way through the current injury crisis.
It’s still unclear if Joël Matip will feature in tonight’s game. Speaking at Tuesday’s pre-match press conference, Klopp told the media that he still wasn’t sure if the centre-half would be fit to start.
“I don’t know yet. Only two days ago we played, he left the pitch with a back spam.
“The physios worked pretty much 24 hours on him, so we will see. Today we have another session and then we will see.”
For the sake of our sanity, let’s be positive and take it that Matip will be able to start tonight. He will then be alongside Fabinho in central defence with Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold on the flanks.
Curtis Jones could be in for another start with Naby Keïta only coming back to full fitness in training this week. Jones may start in a midfield triumvirate with Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum.
Diogo Jota and Kostas Tsimikas were both added to Liverpool’s injury list in recent days. Both players face around six-to-eight weeks out of first-team action.
Klopp is also without Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, Thiago Alcântara, Xherdan Shaqiri and James Milner.
Some good news is that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain may well be available for selection for the first time this season. The attacking midfielder has been injured since pre-season.
With Jota out, Liverpool are likely to field their regular front three of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mané.
Predicted Liverpool lineup (4-3-3) vs Spurs: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Jones; Salah, Firmino, Mané
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Rhys in for Matip