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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Joe Rimmer

The two rare changes Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp could make against Porto

Liverpool are back on top of the Premier League after winning at Southampton.

The Reds recovered from going a goal down to score through Naby Keita, Mohamed Salah and Jordan Henderson to move back ahead of Man City at the summit.

It was the Reds' fifth straight win in all competitions, but Jurgen Klopp and his team must quickly turn their attentions to Europe and to Porto.

The Reds face the Portuguese champions in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and one thing is for sure, Klopp will be making changes.

The change Klopp must make

Liverpool will be without Andy Robertson for the visit of Porto after the Scot was booked late on in the 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich last month.

That means Robertson must serve a one-match ban, giving Klopp a decision to make at left-back.

Does the Reds boss go for Alberto Moreno, who has played just four times all season?

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The Spaniard has performed well enough when called upon, but with so little football under his belt it could represent a risk playing him against Porto.

More likely, perhaps, is Klopp picking James Milner at left-back, a position the experienced midfielder spent a whole season playing at in 2016/17.

The change Klopp could make

Naby Keita celebrates with team mate Georginio Wijnaldum after scoring their team's first goal during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Liverpool FC at St Mary's Stadium on April 05, 2019 (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

The Reds boss may be thinking about freshening up his midfield for the visit of Porto, with one man in particular surely in need of a breather.

Gini Wijnaldum has missed only three Premier League matches all season, as well as playing in every Champions League game.

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As a result, the Dutchman has looked leggy in recent weeks, culminating in him being withdrawn as Liverpool looked to win the game against Southampton.

Klopp could decide to make the rare choice of leaving Wijnaldum out of his midfield, instead deploying Fabinho with Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita.

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