Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table with an emphatic victory over Newcastle United on New Year’s Day.
Mohamed Salah signed off ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations with two goals and Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo also found the target as the Reds earned a 4-2 triumph at Anfield to move three points clear at the top.
Liverpool now turn their attentions to the FA Cup and a third-round clash at Arsenal on Sunday. And here we look ahead to the changes Jurgen Klopp could make when his team are next in action.
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Quansah ready
The big question for Klopp this weekend is just how strong he should go with his starting line-up. While Liverpool won’t have played for almost a week, the first leg of the League Cup semi-final at home to Fulham comes just three days later.
Debate over who should start in goal is perhaps not as intense as expected given Alisson Becker has started six of the last seven FA Cup ties and will be favourite ahead of Caoimhin Kelleher who will feature in the League Cup. Adrian is third choice between the sticks.
Trent Alexander-Arnoldhas been the regular right-back although the return to fitness of Conor Bradley offers an alternative, while the recall of Owen Beck from his loan spell at Dundee gives an option to stand-in left-back Joe Gomez with Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas both sidelined.
Jarell Quansahis the most likely to come into the defence having recently rotated with Ibrahima Konate to line up alongside Virgil van Dijk at centre-back. Joel Matip is out for the season.
Clark on standby?
The departure of Wataru Endo for the Asian Cup makes the return of Alexis Mac Allister timely in the defensive midfield role. Jones could also fill the breach but has been impressive in recent weeks when featuring on the left of the engine room triumvirate, with youngster James McConnell another option.
Ryan Gravenberch, another challenging for a place on the left, has been hampered by inconsistent form of late, while on the opposite side Dominik Szoboszlai could face a spell out with a hamstring problem.
Harvey Elliott would be expected to come in on the right but may be needed further upfield. Highly-rated teenager Bobby Clark, then, may emerge as a surprise choice having been back in action before Christmas following injury.
Thiago Alcantaraisn’t ready for a start after being missing for the duration of the season so far, while Stefan Bajcetic remains sidelined.
Salah question
How Liverpool cope in the absence of Salah will be the main issue Klopp must address. Both Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz can play on the right, while Elliott has started there recently. Teenage winger Kaide Gordon, who featured in a League Cup semi-final at the Emirates two years ago with Salah missing, would be a surprise starter. Ben Doak is injured.
Elsewhere, the versatility of Diaz, Jota, Gakpo and Darwin Nunez means they each could start on the left with all bar Diaz having featured down the centre of the attack at some point during the festive period.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
