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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Joe Rimmer & Ian Doyle & Paul Gorst

Liverpool line-ups for Wolves as Naby Keita may be part of midfield change

'Klopp's message a simple one'

Paul Gorst: The last time Liverpool visited Molineux, they were chasing a 16-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

But if the times have certainly changed, the Reds’ team this evening should not.

With a five-day gap since their last match - a potentially watershed performance against RB Leipzig - the message should be simple for Jurgen Klopp.

Same again, lads.

With Nat Phillips and Ozan Kabak now at centre-half, their burgeoning partnership should be allowed to continue in the Black Country.

Fabinho - a ‘No.6’ Klopp calls “the best in the world” - simply must play his preferred position at Molineux too.

With that defensive screen in front of Phillips and Kabak the Reds looked a lot more durable against Leipzig.

Thiago Alcantara and Gini Wijnaldum complete the formidable-looking midfield trio with Diogo Jota tasked with hurting his former side alongside Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.

Or in short, Liverpool are unchanged.

My team: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Kabak, Phillips, Robertson; Fabinho, Thiago, Wijnaldum; Salah, Jota, Mane.

'Come in Naby Keita'

Ian Doyle: Incredibly, the rubbishness of everyone else means Liverpool still have more than half a chance of finishing in the top four.

Winning the rest of their games might be required, though. Starting at Wolverhampton Wanderers this evening.

It's tempting for Jurgen Klopp to shuffle his pack but, with seemingly 13 years until the Reds' next game, that seems unlikely here.

So, what to do?

The defence can stay as it is. No changes required there, although don't be surprised if Kostas Tsimikas starts to pop up a bit during the remainder of the campaign.

The front line is, well, the front line when Roberto Firmino is out. That means Sadio Mane left, Mohamed Salah right and Diogo Jota down the middle.

Midfield is the interesting one. Fabinho has to start - that is a given. And this is a game for Thiago Alcantara to build on his impressive showing against RB Leipzig last time out.

Come in, then, Naby Keita, who is due another go.

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

'Naby Keita can make Reds more dangerous'

Joe Rimmer: Jurgen Klopp has finally got his midfield back.

Well, some of it, anyway.

Fabinho's return to the centre of the park is a big boost for the Reds and he should stay there.

His presence allows his midfield partners to really shine and both Thiago Alcantara and Gini Wijnaldum played well against Leipzig.

It's tempting to keep them the same, but last time we saw Naby Keita start a Premier League match away from home, Liverpool scored seven.

His presence could make the Reds just that little bit more dangerous going forward, so I'm going to throw him in instead of Thiago.

Ozan Kabak and Nat Phillips are the partnership that Klopp should hang his hat on for the rest of the season in defence and Diogo Jota remains in my front three.

My team: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Kabak, Phillips, Robertson; Fabinho, Keita, Wijnaldum; Salah, Jota, Salah.

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