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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle & Paul Gorst & Theo Squires

Liverpool line-ups as Luis Diaz and Naby Keita decisions made at Villarreal

Ian Doyle - Ibrahima Konate partners Virgil van Dijk

The weather may be soaking wet in Villarreal today but the atmosphere is likely to be red hot this evening.

Not sure that tallies, but we continue. And what a game, the Champions League semi-final second leg with Liverpool 2-0 ahead.

No reason, then, for Jurgen Klopp to not go as strong as possible. Who does that involve, then?

Alisson Becker is in goal and Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson the full-backs. And I’d bring in Ibrahima Konate to partner Virgil van Dijk at centre-back.

Midfield is an interesting one. Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara are in, for sure. And I’d bring Jordan Henderson back, with the knowledge Naby Keita and James Milner can be introduced with five substitutions allowed.

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Up top, it’s Mohamed Salah right, Sadio Mane central and Luis Diaz on the left. There’s plenty in reserve if things go awry.

My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Thiago, Henderson; Salah, Mane, Diaz.

Paul Gorst - Diogo Jota starts

After Jurgen Klopp made five changes to his Liverpool team on Saturday, I am expecting the big guns to return tonight.

That means recalls for Fabinho, Mohamed Salah and Thiago Alcantara, to name just three. At the back, I’m sticking with Joel Matip alongside Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Ibrahima Konate has been the go-to for the European games this season but Matip gets the nod this evening.

In midfield, Naby Keita starts too alongside Thiago and Fabinho while I’m retaining Diogo Jota up top. Luis Diaz can drop out with Tottenham at Anfield to come on Saturday evening.

That means Sadio Mane can shuffle off to the left of Liverpool’s front three with Salah taking his position on the right.

My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Thiago, Keita; Salah, Jota, Mane.

Theo Squires - Luis Diaz plays

Jurgen Klopp made plenty of changes for Liverpool’s clash with Newcastle United on Saturday as he managed the turnaround of a trip to St. James’ Park falling bang in the middle of the Champions League semi-finals.

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Making five changes, Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara were all benched, along with Ibrahima Konate, on Tyneside. Now, just 90 minutes from the Champions League final, those big guns all have to return.

There’s plenty of recovery time before Saturday’s evening kick-off at home to Tottenham, so Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk can go again alongside the returning duo.

Meanwhile, as good as James Milner was against Newcastle, it’s not enough to keep his place as Fabinho and Thiago start. Naby Keita keeps his place though, with Jordan Henderson to drop to the bench.

And in attack, Mohamed Salah returns as with Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz returned to their central and left-wing roles respectively.

My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Keita, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Mane, Diaz.

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