Darwin Nunez starts, Harvey Elliott axed: Liverpool predicted XI v Arsenal
Liverpool host table-toppers Arsenal at Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday (23 December) in the most anticipated fixture of the season so far.
A win for Jurgen Klopp’s side will see them edge past the Gunners to reclaim their spot at the summit of the table and Football Insider has predicted their starting line-up ahead of the huge showdown.
Defence
Klopp switched out half his defence for their 5-1 League Cup home victory against West Ham on Wednesday (20 December) but may opt to bring Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate back into the fold.
Virgil Van Dijk and Kostas Tsimikas are likely to remain in the backline in front of Alisson, whose muscle injury sustained against Man City last month (25 November) looks well and truly behind him.
It will mean the axe for Joe Gomez, 26, who has impressed of late including in midweek, starting on the sidelines.
Midfield
The Reds’ midfield was excellent against the Hammers and Klopp could choose to stick with Curtis Jones, who bagged a brace, next to Wataru Endo and Dominik Szoboszlai in the midfield.
That would mean Harvey Elliott, 20, who started on the right side of the attack in the demolition of West Ham, once again starting a Premier League match on the bench.
Liverpool are waiting on the availability of Ryan Gravenberch, 21, after he was forced out of play against Man United on the weekend (17 December), with Klopp confirming it was fatigue. The latest news on the former Bayern Munich star from Klopp’s number two Pep Lijnders is that he is back in training and should be fit for Saturday.
Attack
Mohammed Salah could be in line to return to the starting XI after he was rested against West Ham.
He still bagged himself a goal from the bench and could start alongside Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez in north London, both of whom played from the off at Anfield.
In other news, Kieran Maguire: ‘Man United fans will be cheering on Liverpool after £30m+ reveal’.