NOTTINGHAM FOREST VS LIVERPOOL: PREDICTED LINEUP

Liverpool are in action again tomorrow when they travel to the City Ground to take on bottom of the table Nottingham Forest. The Reds are aiming for a third league victory on the spin as they seek to correct a poor start to the campaign. Here’s how we expect Jürgen Klopp to line up his side.

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With the tight turnaround from Wednesday night, we are sure to see a number of changes from the XI that took on West Ham. The manager of course made five changes to the lineup for the win over the Hammers, and could make a similar number of alterations here.

It is the same squad available for this clash, with Darwin Nunez a doubt after receiving treatment on a tight hamstring yesterday. He was taken off early on Wednesday night and will have to be assessed ahead of the game.

There is likely to be just the one change in the backline with Robertson coming back in from the start for Tsimikas. The Greek international provided his fifth assist of the season (joint most in the Liverpool squad) last time out but will make way for the Scot.

Trent should continue at right back unless the gaffer wants Milner to go again in the role he excelled at against City. The 23 year old recently returned from injury and played the full ninety minutes on Wednesday night so could be protected.

Gomez and Van Dijk will continue their partnership at centre back with Konaté and Matip still out. Joe gave away a penalty against West Ham after a daft foul on Bowen but overall, he’s been impressive since returning to the side.

He will have aspirations of making the England squad for the World Cup. The only way he will do so is if he continues putting in consistent displays for the Reds. The centre back pool for the Three Lions isn’t the greatest, with the likes of Maguire, Mings etc not having the best time of things.

The pathway is there if he can stay fit and consistent. He has missed several tournaments through injury and deserves a bit of luck on that front. He will be up against the pacy Brennan Johnson tomorrow. Keep him quiet and it should be another clean sheet and another step towards inclusion in the 26 man squad.

In midfield, the manager will be wary of handing Thiago a third start in a week. The 31 year old was taken off before the hour mark on Wednesday night and will likely be restricted to a cameo off the bench here. This should see Henderson and Fabinho partner up in the double pivot.

Out wide, Harvey Elliott should return on the right flank. He was excellent against City last week and will be looking to reproduce that level of performance, with more emphasis on the attacking side of the game this time.

There isn’t a lot of options on the left flank in the absence of Diaz and Jota. Carvalho played there for an hour last time out before Curtis Jones came on for the remainder of the game. Jones only just returned from injury himself and isn’t ready for a start.

Oxlade-Chamberlain could be a potent weapon on either flank in this new system but he’s also just returning from injury and has yet to play a single minute this season. Carvalho will therefore get another opportunity to start on the left.

He is a bit lightweight and hence easy to knock off the ball. He has to learn to pop the ball off quicker, he posseses all the tools required to grow into a top player. Up top, Salah should line up central again after being switched back wide last time out.

He will likely be partnered up with Darwin Nunez provided the Uruguayan is passed fit. He is said to have complained about a tight hamstring in midweek. If not, Firmino will have to start a fourth consecutive game in a 10/11 days (which is not ideal).

Predicted team:

Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Elliott, Carvalho, Salah, Darwin.

Subs: Kelleher, Tsimikas, Phillips, Milner, Bajcetic, Thiago, Jones, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Firmino.