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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle & Paul Gorst & Theo Squires & Tom Cavilla & Richard Garnett

Liverpool lineups as Harvey Elliott and Luis Diaz decisions made for West Ham

Ian Doyle - Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain starts

The return game against one of only two teams to beat Liverpool in the last 11 months will be intriguing.

And I expect the Reds to go pretty strong for the visit of West Ham United.

That's going to mean changes.

Not in goal, though. Alisson Becker can stay there. And the illness of Joel Matip means Ibrahima Konate can remain at centre-back, with Virgil van Dijk returning to join the Frenchman.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson come in at right-back and left-back respectively.

Midfield is not quite as difficult as usual, due to injuries and the fact James Milner played 90 minutes on Wednesday against Norwich City and surely won't be asked to go again.

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That leaves Fabinho and Jordan Henderson as certainties, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Harvey Elliott competing for the third role. I'll plump for the former.

Up top, it's all change with Mohamed Salah on the right, Luis Diaz on the left and Sadio Mane down the middle. Diogo Jota makes for a pretty good substitute, to be fair.

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

Paul Gorst - Ibrahima Konate partners Virgil van Dijk

It feels like it’s been a long time since Liverpool were in Premier League action.

But with Manchester City not playing until they entertain city rivals United on Sunday, this is a great chance to turn the heat up on the leaders.

Alisson Becker continues in goal behind a back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson and Ibou Konate, who I am picking to deputise for the ill Joel Matip.

In midfield, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Harvey Elliott can work as a trio as Thiago and Naby Keita try and get get themselves fit for Tuesday night against Inter.

Up top, Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane can both start as Mohamed Salah returns. Diogo Jota does not look 100 per cent just now after that recent ankle problem so he can wait in reserve.

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

Theo Squires - Jordan Henderson rested

After 10 changes in midweek against Norwich, expect plenty more today as Liverpool return to Premier League action against West Ham.

Alisson keeps his place in goal, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk returning ahead of him. Meanwhile, Ibrahima Konate makes up the back four in the absence of the ill Joel Matip.

Jordan Henderson gets a rest in midfield, having started in midweek, with injuries to Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita and Curtis Jones making options slightly limited.

But Fabinho can return as the number six, with Harvey Elliott starting to the right of him and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain keeping his place.

Meanwhile in attack, Diogo Jota still doesn’t look quite right after that ankle injury so it’s Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Luiz Diaz leading the line, with Takumi Minamino hopefully getting a good cameo off the bench.

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

Tom Cavilla - Harvey Elliott brought in

It was not long ago that Jurgen Klopp had a fully fit squad at his disposal.

In less than a couple of weeks, however, the injuries are slowly returning for the Reds.

Joel Matip will miss out against West Ham due to illness, paving the way for Ibrahima Konate to feature alongside Virgil van Dijk.

Elsewhere in defence, the ever-reliable duo of Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold are expected to regain their places after being rested midweek against Norwich.

In midfield, Curtis Jones and Naby Keita are to be assessed ahead of today’s fixture while Thiago Alcantara has already been ruled out.

This could therefore result in Harvey Elliott being afforded the chance to start from the off alongside captain Jordan Henderson.

Up front, Mohamed Salah is a certainty to return after a rare rest against the Canaries.

Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane were both deployed from the bench on Wednesday evening, though are likely to be required from the get-go on this occasion.

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

Richard Garnett - Diogo Jota returns

Only a fortnight ago we were all saying how amazing it was that Liverpool had a fully fit squad to choose from.

Well despite that squad depth there are now less options on the table and a quick glance at Liverpool's fixture list this month shows there is seldom an opportunity to rotate for the sake of it, if the Reds are serious about keeping their ambitious quadruple dream alive.

Having enjoyed a rest against Norwich in the FA Cup, Trent Alexander-Arnold returns at right-back, with Ibrahima Konate keeps his place at centre-back alongside Virgil van Dijk.

Midfield options have been trimmed thanks to injuries, but the Reds should still be able to put out a solid unit.

Fabinho is back in, protecting the back four, flanked by captain Jordan Henderson. There is a question mark over who will occupy the other spot, with Thiago Alcantara out and Curtis Jones and Naby Keita also doubtful.

In the interests of balance, I think Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain may get the nod for a start here, just ahead of Harvey Elliott.

Up front, Diogo Jota appears to have shaken off his recent issues and with the evident hunger to succeed, I can see him playing down the middle against West Ham, flanked by Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

My team (4-3-3): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Salah, Jota, Mane.

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