Fabinho returns and Firmino remains
Paul Gorst: It’s a curious state of affairs when a visit from Atletico Madrid is the not the biggest match of the week for Liverpool.
But with Champions League qualification to the last 16 already within touching distance at the halfway point, it’s Sunday’s trip to West Ham where Jurgen Klopp might want to use his biggest hitters.
Alisson Becker will start in goal though, behind a back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Kostas Tsimikas.
In midfield, the return of Thiago Alcantara and Fabinho significantly bolsters the engine room options, but only the latter comes back into the side for me. Curtis Jones and Jordan Henderson join him.
Up front, I’m resisting the claims of Diogo Jota and keeping Roberto Firmino in there alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Fabinho, Henderson, Jones; Salah, Firmino, Mane.
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Oxlade-Chamberlain starts as Fabinho comes back
Ian Doyle: Diego Simeone. Atletico Madrid. Luis Suarez.
All the elements for a night of proper slog at Anfield for Liverpool in the Champions League.
A win will put the Reds through - and might even seal top spot - but this is a game where I'd expect some rotation.
Not in goal, though. That's Alisson Becker.
At left-back, come in Kostas Tsimikas. And say hello again to Joel Matip, who can partner Virgil van Dijk at centre-back. Trent Alexander-Arnold is still the right-back.
Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara are both available again in midfield but it would be a big shout to play both. With five substitutions allowed, one can start and the other can get in a good half-hour.
That means Fabinho in for me, joining Jordan Henderson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who would benefit from the minutes.
Up top, Diogo Jota is back but this time at the expense of Roberto Firmino. Mohamed Salah is on the right and Sadio Mane on the left.
That said, don't be surprised if Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino see decent game time this evening.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Fabinho, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Salah, Jota, Mane.
Tsimkas gets chance with Matip in
Hannah Pinnock: I expect a few changes to the team that faced Brighton at the weekend, with a slight refresh of the line-up needed.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk should start, but I'd like to see Joel Matip come back into the defence and Kostas Tsimikas given a chance at left-back.
Changes are necessary in midfield.
Fabinho walks straight back into the team if he's fit enough and I reckon he'll start alongside Jordan Henderson and Curtis Jones.
Up front, the front three should stay the same with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Fabinho, Henderson, Jones; Salah, Firmino, Mane.
*Let us know the team you would pick:
Matip back as Klopp goes strong
Dan Kay: It’s a fraction under 18 months since Liverpool and Atletico Madrid last faced up at Anfield in the Champions League but it feels like 18 lifetimes ago.
So much has happened since that March 2020 showdown which never should have taken place but what remains unaltered is the lure and lustre of L4 under floodlights.
With the Reds eyeing the rare opportunity to sew up qualification with two games to spare, I expect Klopp to go strong in a bid to secure home and away wins over the Spanish champions.
Alisson Becker’s absence was sorely missed the last time the ‘Rojiblancos’ were in town but he takes in place in goal and will be flanked by regular flying full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson.
Virgil van Dijk is a given at the heart of defence with the only question being whether Ibahima Konate continues alongside him. The young Frenchman hasn’t put a foot wrong but I’m bringing back Joel Matip whose unconventional but effective wiles will be useful in dealing with the threat of what will no doubt be a fired-up Luis Suarez on his return to Anfield.
The welcome sight of Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara back in training boosts Klopp’s midfield options but whether they’re both fit enough to start remains to be seen. I’m bringing the Brazilian back in the holding role and selecting skipper Jordan Henderson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - outstanding during Atleti’s last fateful visit to Anfield before his untimely substitution - alongside him, with Thiago a useful option off the bench if required.
Up front, Diogo Jota returns to lead the line against one his former clubs in place of Roberto Firmino who wasn’t at his best against Brighton at the weekend, with flying wide forwards Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane flanking him.
My team (4-4-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Henderson; Salah, Jota, Mane.
