Liverpool are next up against Real Madrid in the Champions League with Jurgen Klopp facing some selection posers
Liverpool continued to build some much-needed momentum with an important victory over top-four rivals Newcastle United on Saturday evening.
Early goals from Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo eased the Reds to a 2-0 success over the 10-man Magpies. Liverpool will now look to begin addressing a poor recent record against Real Madrid when they entertain the Spaniards in the Champions League round of 16 first leg on Tuesday.
And here we look ahead to the changes Jurgen Klopp could make when his team are next in action.
A second successive clean sheet means that, injury permitting, Liverpool will most likely keep faith in the rearguard that did the job at St James’ Park at the weekend.
Virgil van Dijk returned at centre-back after six weeks without an appearance, with Joe Gomez preferred to Joel Matip as his partner. With Ibrahima Konate still sidelined by a hamstring problem, Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams are the other options.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was impressive once more and should stay in at right-back. Calvin Ramsay is out for the season, leaving James Milner and Gomez as the two unlikely alternatives for Klopp.
At left-back, Andy Robertson remains ahead of Kostas Tsimikas while, in goal, Alisson Becker underlined his position as first-choice with an excellent display at Newcastle.
Middle change?
Even with Thiago Alcantara out, there are sufficient numbers for Liverpool to consider changes in midfield after Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Stefan Bajcetic started a second successive game inside six days at the weekend.
Milner was enthusiastic in a cameo during the final half-hour, while Naby Keita is fresh having remained benched. Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain once again failed to make the matchday squad, but with 12 players allowed on the bench in the Champions League compared to nine in domestic competitions, there is greater scope for involvement on Tuesday.
Arthur Melo, who warmed up with the squad at Newcastle before kick-off despite not being included, is another possibility among the substitutes.
Nunez wait
How Liverpool line up in attack may depend on the availability of Darwin Nunez, who sustained a shoulder injury at the weekend.
If the Uruguayan is passed fit, he will most likely start on the left with Mohamed Salah on the right. Klopp would then perhaps have to decide between the form of Cody Gakpo or the knowhow of fit-again Roberto Firmino down the centre.
Should Nunez not make it, the choice would then be whether to move Gakpo to the left and recall Firmino down the middle or play Diogo Jota on the left and Firmino central, although the latter seems unreasonably risky given both have just returned from long periods on the sidelines.
Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho are other options on the flanks, but Luis Diaz isn’t yet ready for consideration.
