Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he’ll make some changes to his squad for the New Year’s Day clash at Burnley FC, so let’s take look at who might be unavailable/available for selection. (Here’s the link to the LFC starting XI prediction)
It all starts with scorching hot scoring sensation Mohamed Salah, and Liverpool released an update on him on New Year’s Eve. Unfortunately, it said nothing that we didn’t already know from Klopp’s postgame press conference on Saturday- that he is a doubt for this one.
Defender Alberto Moreno (ankle) might be fit in time for Friday’s Merseyside derby FA Cup clash, but not likely for this one.
New record signing Virgil van Dijk cannot be registered in time to play, as the January transfer window does not officially open until the day of the game. Defender Ragnar Klavan is set to recover from a head injury in time to feature in this one.
Klopp has already confirmed that Simon Mignolet will return to the starting goalkeeper position. On the other touchline, Burnley have a pair of doubts in left-back Stephen Ward (knee) and striker Chris Wood (leg). Meanwhile Robbie Brady (knee) and Tom Heaton (shoulder) remain long-term absentees.
One of the main story lines in this fixture is festive period fixture congestion. Klopp says he’s getting used to it though.
“For me, it’s the most strange situation, because it’s now the third time,” he said.
“Everybody is like: ‘Wow, how will you do that?’. But everybody is so excited to see how we will run into each other two days after we played already and nobody talks about it. I have no problem with that. We go there.”
By the way, Happy New Year to all.
LFC starting XI prediction: go to this link
Odds: Liverpool- 1/2, Burnley- 13/2, Draw- 7/2
Prediction: Liverpool 4, Burnley 3
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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