Ian Doyle - Salah and Nunez rested
You'd have to be a fool not to love the FA Cup. And Liverpool's latest chance of silverware this season - and the start of the defence of the trophy they won so memorably at Wembley last May - begins this evening at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
If I was Jurgen Klopp, I'd be going strong for this one. Albeit still with a fair amount of rotation.
Not in goal, though. That's Alisson Becker. Andy Robertson can return at left-back, and I'd give Joe Gomez a go at right-back. The centre-back pairing of Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip needs to start building an understanding, so they can play.
In midfield, skipper Jordan Henderson steps back in. And I'd like to see two youngsters alongside him in Stefan Bajcetic and Curtis Jones, the latter now back form injury.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's efforts on the left merit a move to the right wing, while Cody Gakpo can be given a debut down the centre of the attack with the lesser-spotted Fabio Carvalho on the left.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Gomez, Matip, Konate, Robertson; Bajcetic, Henderson, Jones; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gakpo, Carvalho
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Theo Squires - Doak deserves a start
Jurgen Klopp hinted he’ll name a strong Liverpool side against Wolves, insisting there were no plans to rotate in the FA Cup as the Reds look to bounce back from their 3-1 defeat away at Brentford.
Yet with a number of players either picking up injuries or only just returning from lay-offs since the post-World Cup restart, I’d still want Klopp to make some changes as Liverpool’s cup defence gets underway.
First things, first. Cody Gakpo starts. He’s had a few days in training now following his move from PSV Eindhoven and, with Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota long-term absentees, looks set to be first-choice on the left in the weeks ahead. Klopp might have played down the possibility of him enjoying an electric start akin to the Colombian 12 months ago, but he’s the player the fans want to see against Wolves so let’s give the people what they want.
With Roberto Firmino not yet pictured back in training, Darwin Nunez has to go again down the middle. Hopefully he can get a couple of goals to move on from recent misses. Mohamed Salah is given the night off though, with Ben Doak handed a first start on the right. He’s caught the eye in his cameos so far so let’s see what the teenager can do.
Stefan Bajcetic starts as the holding midfielder, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain lining up alongside him. He’s played well on the left since the restart and deserves a chance in his preferred position. Curtis Jones can complete the trio, seeing as we don’t know if Naby Keita is available after he wasn’t pictured in training on Thursday.
With Virgil van Dijk out for over a month, I’d only start one of Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip for this one. The Frenchman gets the nod in search of rhythm and he can line up alongside Nat Phillips.
Calvin Ramsay is an option at right-back, but has only just returned to training after injury so has to make do with a place on the bench. Joe Gomez can start there as a result, with Andy Robertson named captain on the opposing flank.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Gomez, Phillips, Konate, Robertson; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Bajcetic, Jones; Doak, Nunez, Gakpo
Richard Garnett - Reds should go full strength
The misery of Liverpool's deserved defeat at the hands of Brentford is still lingering like the stench coming from your uncollected Christmas wheelie bin, so plucky Premier League opposition like Wolves is not exactly the ideal FA Cup Third Round match to follow up with.
Get this one wrong and the Reds' defence of the trophy will be over quicker than their relinquishment of the Carabao Cup, so injury-permitting, Jurgen Klopp has got to go with a pretty strong side here.
All the indicators are that Alisson will keep his place in goal, so in front of him I'm having a back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson. Kostas Tsimikas could have reasonably expected to start this match, but as proven at Brentford, Liverpool need real leadership right now and Robertson provides that.
The midfield riddle continues to baffle this writer, so today I'm playing a bit of a curve-ball. Thiago Alacantara can have a rest and Harvey Elliott drops back to the bench as Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita come in, with the rather leggy-looking Fabinho at the base of the midfield trio.
Up top, all the excitement is about Cody Gakpo and if he's fit, I'd like to see him on from the off. The Dutchman assumes the left-sided attacking role with Darwin Nunez down the middle and Mohamed Salah on the right.
Nunez has not been found wanting for effort since the World Cup break, which is more than I can say for a few of his teammates, so I'm backing him today to finally get a return on his attainment.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Konate, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Keita, Salah, Nunez, Gakpo
Charlotte Coates - Klopp should unleash new front line
Things are looking a bit bleak at Liverpool at the moment and the loss to Brentford on Monday was a sobering performance.
Liverpool were poor all over the pitch and things need putting right, the players will know that and so will Jurgen Klopp.
This is a perfect opportunity for Klopp to go strong with his starting XI as Liverpool start their defence of the FA Cup they won back in May.
In goal will be Alisson Becker with Klopp confirming so in his press conference.
Trent Alexander-Arnold will stay at right-back with Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate starting in the heart of the defence in place of the injured Virgil van Dijk. Andy Robertson will come back to start at left-back.
I think Fabinho will continue in his deeper midfield role alongside the returning Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara.
This is where things get exciting as Cody Gakpo will start on the left of the front three for his Liverpool debut while Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah will take the other two spots.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Konate, Robertson; Fabinho, Thiago, Henderson; Gakpo, Nunez, Salah
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