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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle & Paul Gorst & Keifer MacDonald & Richard Garnett

Liverpool line-ups as Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott decisions made for Crystal Palace

Gomez starts as Keita comes in for Thiago

Paul Gorst: Jurgen Klopp will have a lot more injuries to contend with than he would have liked for the first home game of the new season.

The latest concerns Joel Matip and while there was hope on Friday that letting him sit out training could lead to availability tonight, I'm tempted to err on the side of caution. So that means Joe Gomez starts at centre-back for the first time in the Premier League since November 2020.

In midfield, the key question is what does Klopp do without Thiago Alcantara? And while the clamour to bring in a midfielder has intensified since that injury to the Spain star, a more rational assessment of the situation reveals £52m Naby Keita to be ready for action. Harvey Elliott just misses out.

READ MORE: Michael Owen dreaded Mohamed Salah goal as three Liverpool legends set for disappointment

READ MORE: Full Liverpool squad available for Crystal Palace as several set to miss Anfield clash

Up top, it simply has to be a start for Darwin Nunez in place of Roberto Firmino who was ineffective at Fulham last week. The £64m striker has two in two from the bench so let's see what he can do from the off.

My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Keita; Salah, Nunez, Diaz.

Elliott and Keita come in

Ian Doyle: No messing about this evening for Liverpool. They need to get that all-important first Premier League win on the board.

And Jurgen Klopp has a couple of major decisions to make regards his line-up against Crystal Palace.

In defence, there's no need to risk Joel Matip with Joe Gomez ready to step in alongside Virgil van Dijk at centre-back. Alisson Becker is in goal, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson the full-backs.

Fabinho can anchor the midfield, but with Thiago Alcantara out, I'd be willing to go with both Naby Keita and Harvey Elliott to give Palace something different to consider. If it goes wrong, there's always Jordan Henderson and James Milner on the bench.

Darwin Nunez has done enough to lead the attack ahead of Roberto Firmino, with Luis Diaz on the left and Mohamed Salah on the right.

My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Elliott, Keita; Salah, Nunez, Diaz.

Trusted Milner to get a grip of midfield

Richard Garnett: It seems like absolutely ages since Liverpool kicked off the new Premier League season with possibly their most abject performance in, well, absolutely ages.

A nine day wait to rid the system of that 2-2 draw is hardly ideal when you want to move on quickly, but at least it has given Jurgen Klopp plenty of time to decide what to do with his midfield.

The loss of Thiago at Craven Cottage was most unwelcome and now Liverpool's German commander must decide how he wants to redeploy his troops for the visit of Crystal Palace.

Naby Keita is back in the frame after missing the Fulham match with illness, but is he really match-fit? He might seem like the obvious choice to replace Thiago but the early season form - and fitness - of James Milner is pushing me to think differently.

With Ibrahima Konate out and Joel Matip looking likely to miss this one as well, I'm picking a back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson in front of Alisson. My midfield trio of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Milner might not have the most dynamic look about it, but the Reds oddly lacked control in this area against Marco Silva's side and I'm backing the old heads to get a grip of it this time, with Keita and Harvey Elliott credible options off the bench.

Supporters will be eager to see what Darwin Nunez can do at Anfield and with two goals in two matches the Uruguayan gets the nod ahead of Bobby Firmino (who was disappointing against Fulham), flanked by Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah.

My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Milner; Salah, Nunez, Diaz

Elliott's time to shine in midfield

Keifer MacDonald: So here we are once again, Liverpool making their Anfield bow at the start of a new Premier League season. Having dropped points during their opening day clash with Fulham last weekend, it feels like there's an added ounce of excitement for this. Time to dust off the cobwebs and truly get the season underway.

Despite being far from pleased with what he saw in the capital last weekend, parts of Jurgen Klopp's team selection will not come through choice due to an ever-growing injury list at the AXA Training Centre. The latest being a suspected groin injury to Joel Matip on Friday, meaning that Joe Gomez gets the nod alongside Virgil van Dijk - and either side Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson - for this one. Of course, with Alisson in the sticks.

In midfield, there's another enforced change for the Reds manager as Thiago Alcantara faces a lengthy lay-off due to a hamstring strain. Which will hand Harvey Elliott the chance to start his first Premier League game since May as he looks to celebrate his new long-term contract in style. He'll be guided by two elder statesmen in Jordan Henderson and Fabinho.

Which means Klopp's only unforced changes comes in the forward line as Darwin Nunez, fresh from his eye-catching cameo at Fulham, lines up either side of Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz as Anfield gets its first glimpse of a new-look forward trio.

My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Elliott, Fabinho, Henderson; Salah, Nunez, Diaz

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