The international break is over and Liverpool restarts EPL play by welcoming rival Manchester United to Anfield on Monday afternoon.
Loris Karius starts in net for the third-straight game. He hasn’t been all that great in his first two league matches, but he was brought to Liverpool to be the No. 1 keeper and it’s time to show why against United.
Editor’s note: this Liverpool starting XI prediction and corresponding analysis was composed by Will Willems (@willdub88)
Related: Man United Injury Report for Liverpool match
Related: Man United Starting XI Prediction for Liverpool
The back four are all fit and ready to go. Lovren and Clyne had minor injuries that kept them back from international duty, but have been training in full the last two weeks and should have no problems heading into the match-up. Milner has cemented his place as the left-back and Matip has been solid since taking over his starting role.
The front-6 will be where the questions arise for Jurgen Klopp. Adam Lallana went off with a groin injury against Swansea City right before the break, and Georginio Wijnaldum limped off with an injury while with the Dutch over the break. Neither have been ruled out forMonday’s clash, but it is unlikely they will start.
Also in doubt are Phillipe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino, who arrived late after playing in a pair of qualifiers with Brazil. If the game were played on Saturday, it is unlikely either would have started, but a Monday game gives them more time to adjust to being back in England.
Against Swansea, when Lallana came off, Liverpool brought in Sturridge, moving Firmino to the left and dropping Coutinho into Lallana’s role. That should be the move again Monday. Emre Can comes into the line-up for Wijnaldum. He could come into the No. 6 role that Henderson has been playing all season, pushing Henderson into a more box-to-box role. Both have their strengths and weaknesses, but Henderson seems to be hitting his stride in his role as the pivot and rather than have two players out of position, it should be a straight swap.
GK Loris Karius
RB Nathanial Clyne – CB Joel Matip – CB Dejan Lovren – LB James Milner
MF Emre Can – MF Jordan Henderson – MF Phillipe Coutinho
RW Sadio Mane – FW Daniel Sturridge – LW Roberto Firmino
As always, feel free to post your own Liverpool starting XI in the comments section below. Speak your mind on the formations and line-ups that are already presented here for your discussion.