LIVERPOOL VS NORWICH CITY: PREDICTED LINEUP

Liverpool turn attentions back to their pursuit of Manchester City in the Premier League title race when Norwich visit Anfield this afternoon. We look at how Jürgen Klopp could line up after such a quick turnaround from the win in Milan.

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Diogo Jota is ruled out with an ankle injury he sustained in the victory at San Siro. There are sure to be other changes too, with the intensity of the game on Wednesday night not to be underestimated.

The manager has to juggle his options and share the workload around with the Carabao Cup final just eight days away. He will want his strongest team to come into the final in tip top shape.

It has been an intense week, with three hard fought victories over Leicester City, Burnley and Inter Milan. We should see wholesale changes this afternoon as the manager opts for fresh legs in the side.

In goal, Alisson Becker will continue with Klopp confirming he has no plans to hand Kelleher game time before the final. Ali has kept three clean sheets in a row and will be looking to make it a quartet of successive shut outs.

We could see a number of alterations in the backline. Trent looked completely goosed on Wednesday night with Perisic breezing past him on several occasions. It’s no surprise seeing as it was his fourth start in eleven days.

He could use a break and Norwich at home is just the game for it. With Neco Williams on loan with Fulham, it’s down to Milner or Gomez to fill in. We’re going to have majority of possession as Norwich sit deep so Milner’s superior creative ability should see him get the nod over Joe.

Tsimikas for Robbo at left back is more of a straightforward swap. Kostas has been excellent whenever he’s stepped in this season. In the heart of defence, we should see Joel Matip return to the lineup after he was rotated on Wednesday night.

Alongside Joel is probably going to be Ibou Konaté. He was absolutely superb at San Siro and should get another go here with Virgil getting a rest. Gomez continues to miss out but should see more minutes in the coming weeks.

In the middle of the park, Fabinho is another who is due a breather. He’s played a lot of minutes recently since returning from the international break with Brazil. Henderson came on for him against Inter and completely bossed proceedings.

That’s a change we could see from the start here. Naby Keita was also influential off the bench last time out and could get the nod from the start alongside the skipper. The final slot in midfield could go to any one of Thiago, Elliott, Oxlade-Chamberlain or Jones.

Thiago and Elliott are being carefully managed since their return from respective injuries so it’s down to Ox or Curtis. Young Curtis has failed to make the matchday squad for the past three games however.

He’s likely to miss out again today with Ox in line to make his first start since scoring at Palace almost a month ago. The 28 year old will be well aware of the need to impress, with competition for places in the squad fierce right now.

In attack, Luis Diaz is in line for just his second start for the club since joining from Porto. The Colombian was lively off the bench in Milan and has justified a start here. Mané has probably played more minutes than Klopp would have liked after his return from AFCON, owing to Jota missing training with a dead leg last week.

That could see the AFCON winner rested, with Diaz joining Firmino and Salah in attack. Mo has also had a full schedule since returning and we could well see Sadio come on for him second half.

Jota’s absence means either Origi or Minamino will get a spot in the matchday squad having missed out altogether at Burnley. All in all eight changes to the side that defeated the Italian champions. Still strong enough to get the job done whilst giving key personnel a rest.

Predicted team:

Alisson, Milner, Matip, Konaté, Tsimikas, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Keita, Salah, Firmino, Diaz.

Subs: Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Thiago, Elliott, Mané, Minamino.