LIVERPOOL VS INTER MILAN: PREDICTED LINEUP

Liverpool host Inter Milan tonight in the return leg of their Round of 16 Champions League clash. The Reds hold a 2-0 advantage and will be looking to finish the job to reach the last eight. We look at how Jürgen Klopp could line his side up for the encounter.

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Roberto Firmino, Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip all returned to team training yesterday to hand Jürgen Klopp a triple fitness boost. The game might come too soon for Bobby but Thiago and Matip should be involved.

Alisson Becker will continue in goal. The Brazilian has been a constant in the side this season and has put the injury problems that plagued him over the last two seasons behind him. He’s made 34 appearances already this season, keeping 18 clean sheets.

In defence, Trent and Robbo will likely continue at full back. Konaté missed training yesterday and is a slight doubt, but with Matip back from illness, we could see a straight swap in the heart of defence with Joel partnering Van Dijk.

Gomez is an option if the manager feels Matip isn’t quite ready yet. Unlike last season where the club faced an injury crisis of epic proportions, the manager has solid options at centre back this term. With Dzeko’s prowess in the air, you’d hope Matip is ready to start. If not, you’d back Joe to hold down the fort.

In the middle of the park, Fabinho is a guaranteed starter. The two spots next to him aren’t as clear cut however with several options available. The skipper has played a lot of football this season and is another who seems to have put his injury problems behind him.

He will likely start here to provide leadership and drive for the side in the face of an Inter onslaught. On the left, Thiago’s return might see go straight back in, but that may not be wise given his fitness struggles. Naby Keita could therefore continue in that role after a solid showing against West Ham.

Should the manager want to freshen things up, he could opt for one of Curtis Jones, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain or Harvey Elliott. Young Harvey started the first leg before being withdrawn after the hour mark.

There’s now real competition for places in the front three as well, with new signing Luis Diaz hitting the ground running and earning the manager’s trust. Mané and Salah seem like ever presents in the side, but with Jota fit and available, the manager is presented with a bit of a selection headache.

In the spirit of freshening the side up in the face of a relentless schedule, we could see Diogo Jota come in from the start. It is then a matter of who drops out for him. Diaz has been running himself into the ground every single game since he joined.

He was clearly fatigued in the Cup final when he was taken off in extra time. It’s been a whirlwind of a start to his Liverpool career and he could be the one to be handed a breather here. He came off the bench in the first leg to help change the game and you wonder if another cameo isn’t on the cards here.

It will then be interesting to see where Mané lines up. He’s been adapting to a central striking role over the past few weeks but will Jota and Firmino’s return mean he reverts back to the left wing? One to keep an eye on. It all sums up to two changes to the side that turned over West Ham;

Predicted team:

Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Keita, Salah, Jota, Mané.

Subs: Kelleher, Gomez, Tsimikas, Milner, Morton, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Elliott, Jones, Thiago, Diaz, Origi, Minamino.