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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Jurgen Klopp faces Darwin Nunez decision as Liverpool handed new midfield question

Liverpool ended their winless run in emphatic style with a record-breaking romp at Leeds United on Monday.

The Reds racked up the goals in a 6-1 win, their biggest triumph over the Yorkshire side at Elland Road in history. Liverpool will now look to bolster their hopes of moving up the Premier League table when they host strugglers Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

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

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Defence steady

The need to encourage consistency, and the impressive second-half showing against Arsenal, has seen Klopp stick with the same starting line-up for the last two games.

It would be surprising, then, if there is much alteration for the weekend, with rotation more likely to come afterwards with the Forest clash the first of five games in 15 days.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's 'new' role as an inverted right-back makes him favourite to start. Joe Gomez, who wasn't on the bench at Leeds, and James Milner are other options on the right of defence with Calvin Ramsay injured, while at left-back Andy Robertson is once again firmly first-choice ahead of Kostas Tsimikas.

The same, too, can be said of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate at centre-back. Joel Matip, Gomez and Nat Phillips are the other senior alternatives. Alisson Becker is the number one goalkeeper ahead of Caoimhin Kelleher and Adrian.

Jones stakes claim

The emergence of Curtis Jones as a regular starter on the left of the midfield three has been one of the more intriguing aspects of Klopp's selections of late.

Jones claimed an assist against Leeds and became far more confident coming forward in the second half. However, the return to fitness of Thiago Alcantara has given Liverpool an option in the position.

Fabinho and Jordan Henderson both started once more, with the duo the most likely to compete for the anchor role should Klopp look to alter the engine room at the weekend.

Harvey Elliott, having played in every game this season, hasn't kicked a ball in the last three, while Milner has started one Premier League game since January. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and Arthur Melo - who will all leave in the summer - didn't make the bench on Monday and Stefan Bajcetic is injured.

Diaz decision

The return of Luis Diaz after six months out has given Klopp a welcome selection headache in attack, although it seems unlikely the Colombian will be given a start just yet.

Diogo Jota ended his long goal drought with a brace against Leeds having retained his starting role on the left, but will come under pressure from Darwin Nunez, who came off the bench to also score.

Cody Gakpo and Roberto Firmino have each netted within the last fortnight and are the options down the middle. Mohamed Salah, who is closing on another 30-game season, is favourite to stay on the right. Meanwhile, the lesser-spotted Fabio Carvalho has played two minutes in the top flight since the World Cup.

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