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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Liverpool must make big Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez decisions soon

Liverpool continued their mini-revival with a third successive victory at West Ham United on Wednesday evening.

The Reds had Cody Gakpo and Joel Matip to thank for scoring the goals as they came from behind to earn a 2-1 win. Liverpool will now look to bolster their hopes of European qualification when they host near rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

And here we look ahead to the changes Jurgen Klopp could make when his team are next in action.

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Konate wait

Klopp has been reluctant to overly tinker with his team in recent games given the run that has seen them move back up into the mix for the Europa League places at the very least.

And the four-day gap between the trip to West Ham and the weekend game means there is scope for the Liverpool boss to again stick with the increasing tried and trusted, although the quick turnaround for home games against Fulham and then Brentford next week indicates rotation is immment.

Much will depend on the fitness of Ibrahima Konate, who wasn't risked in midweek. Joel Matip was chosen ahead of Joe Gomez to partner Virgil van Dijk at centre-back. Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams are the other options.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's new role has made him an automatic choice ostensibly at right-back, with Gomez and James Milner alternatives should injury strike given Calvin Ramsay is out. Andy Robertson is firmly first-choice left-back ahead of Kostas Tsimikas, while Alisson Becker is the number one between the sticks with Caoimhin Kelleher and Adrian in reserve.

Elliott patience

It's perhaps surprising just how reliant Klopp has been on his old guard in midfield during the past two months. Fabinho has started the last 11 games in all competitions while Jordan Henderson has been in the XI for all six since the last international break.

At least one will soon be due a breather, and perhaps too Curtis Jones, who has started the last five having been sidelined for much of the campaign.

The options, though, are somewhat limited. Thiago Alcantara has come off the bench in each of the last four games since recovering from a hip problem and is close to a start, while Harvey Elliott hasn't featured for a minute since the 4-1 defeat at Manchester City and Milner has started just one Premier League game since January despite playing in all bar one of the fixtures.

Stefan Bajcetic is injured, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and Arthur Melo - who will all leave in the summer - were again not in the matchday squad on Wednesday.

Diaz decision

There is a different issue in attack with Klopp spoilt for choice despite Roberto Firmino likely to again be missing with a muscle problem.

Mohamed Salah has been a regular on the right as he closes in on another 30-goal season, Diogo Jota has scored four in his last three games while operating on the left and Cody Gakpo, playing down the middle, sent the Reds on their way at West Ham with his sixth goal since arriving in January.

Darwin Nunez has been restricted to bench duty in five of the last six Premier League games and will push both Jota and Gakpo for a starting role, but the main question for Klopp is whether Luis Diaz is ready for a first start since his return from long-term injury having come through half-an-hour at West Ham.

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