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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Jurgen Klopp faces Ibrahima Konate decision as Liverpool consider forward overhaul

Liverpool will look to keep pace with Manchester City as they continue their Premier League title challenge this weekend.

The Reds extended their run of form to just two defeats in 47 games after a solid 2-0 Champions League success at Inter Milan on Wednesday.

Liverpool are now back in domestic action when they entertain relegation-threatened Norwich City in a rare 3pm Saturday kick-off.

And here we look ahead to the changes Jurgen Klopp could make when his team are next in action....

READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp backroom staff have handed Liverpool new secret weapon

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Tsimikas in?

The visit of Norwich may be a much sterner proposition than it may have been mere weeks ago but Jurgen Klopp will again be expected to rotate his resources.

The fine performance of Ibrahima Konate alongside Virgil van Dijk at centre-back on Wednesday has strengthened his claims for more regular minutes, although Joel Matip remains first choice.

Joe Gomez wasn’t included in the last two Premier League squads and it’ll be interesting to discover his involvement at the weekend.

Kostas Tsimikas continues to wait patiently for a start at left-back Andy Robertson in impressive form, and has already featured twice against the Canaries this season.

Trent Alexander-Arnold may well be asked to go again at right-back, while another clean sheet for Alisson Becker in midweek underlined his position as number one between the sticks.

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The Jones question

The midfield misfired during the second half at Inter before the introduction of Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita.

And Klopp certainly has sufficient options in the engine room, with Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara and Harvey Elliott having started.

Henderson’s decent showing could pave the way for a well-earned breather for Fabinho, while Elliott’s minutes will continue to be monitored as he regains full sharpness after injury.

James Milner, who was a late substitute at the San Siro, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are other options.

Curtis Jones, though, has failed to make even the bench the last two games having started the previous five.

To Diaz or not

The injury to Diogo Jota has potentially robbed Liverpool of one of their main forward options for the weekend and beyond.

And, if the Portuguese is missing, who steps in down the centre of attack isn’t entirely cut and dried.

Roberto Firmino came off the bench to score at Inter but the fit-again Divock Origi netted against Norwich earlier in the season .while Mohamed Salah is another option down the middle.

That Luis Diaz has hit the ground running has opened up more possibilities for Klopp, with Sadio Mane, similar to Salah, able to be rested and rotated after his Africa Cup of Nations exploits. Takumi Minamino is another player in contention.

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