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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Joe Rimmer

Why Liverpool's team against Newcastle may look different as Jurgen Klopp keeps fringe player promise

The international break is now upon is with Liverpool right where they want to be.

The Reds lead the way in the Premier League with four wins out of four after beating Burnley 3-0 at Turf Moor on Saturday evening.

Liverpool have already played six competitive games - winning all but the Community Shield - but their schedule will get even busier after the international break.

Klopp's men play three more league fixtures alone in the final two weeks of September, as well as taking on Napoli in their first Champions League group game and MK Dons in the Carabao Cup third round.

It means that Liverpool may look very different when Newcastle visit Anfield on September 14.

Certain starters

The Reds will match anybody physically and beat them technically. (John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

It's fair to say nobody is a certain starter with an international break looming, but as long as fortune favours the Reds when they players depart to their respective national teams, there are several players who will always get picked.

Adrian will play with Alisson expected to still be sidelined with the calf injury sustained against Norwich. Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson are the two members of the back four who are automatic picks.

In midfield, Fabinho seems to be the one definite starter and the front three generally pick themselves.

Potential changes

Joe Gomez celebrates after Liverpool won the UEFA Super Cup 2019 football match against Chelsea (BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images)

Joe Gomez must now be pushing for a start - whether it be at right-back or centre-half and he will hope to come back from the international break fit.

In midfield, James Milner will hope to feature against his former club and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could also be pushing for a start.

Fringe benefits

Blood Red: Klopp's selection process for Burnley and how the European transfer window should be aligned

Klopp admitted in his pre-Burnley press conference that a number of fringe players will be needed once the international break is over.

He said: “We need them all, we need them all 100 per cent. It is the very first part of the season, the first four Premier League games, and we had a busier schedule than other teams but still not that busy during the week.

“After this international break, that will change completely of course. In the moment, the defensive set-up or whatever, as always, it is about who is in the best shape.

"We have had a full week to train and when the boys won the last game and then showed me that they are still in their best possible shape, then we will only think about a couple of really small changes.

“They are all around and that’s good. No decision is made forever in football; we always make decisions for one match and then the next is waiting.

“Usually in this time (international break) they will go all around the world, but after that we need them all and they know that. That’s why the mood in the dressing room is pretty good.”

With that in mind, Xherdan Shaqiri will be hoping to feature for Liverpool.

It was in September last year that the Swiss made his first start for the Reds and in the Autumn when he started games on a regular basis.

Divock Origi is another who will be hoping to feature, as will Adam Lallana.

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