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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Jurgen Klopp faces Mohamed Salah decision as Liverpool ponder new attacking option

Liverpool continued to make their move up the Premier League table with a decent victory at home to West Ham United on Wednesday.

Darwin Nunez scored the only goal midway through the first half as the Reds earned their third successive win in all competitions. Liverpool will now look to move within a point of the top four - at least temporarily - when they travel to Nottingham Forest in Saturday's early kick-off.

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

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Robertson at the ready

Andy Robertson was benched against West Ham and would seem the most likely change in the defence having replaced Kostas Tsimikas at left-back during the second half.

Any other rotation will most likely be determined by whether Ibrahima Konate or Joel Matip have recovered from their respective injuries to challenge for a centre-back slot. Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are currently in possession of the places, with Nat Phillips another option.

At right-back, Calvin Ramsay scored for the under-21s in the EFL Trophy defeat at Accrington Stanley in midweek and could make the bench, with Trent Alexander-Arnold now back fit. James Milner can also play in the role.

Alisson Becker underlined his status as first-choice goalkeeper with an impressive display against the Hammers, with Caoimhin Kelleher and Adrian competing to be the Brazilian's understudy.

Central reservations?

With Liverpool having switched, at least in recent games, to a 4-4-2/4-2-3-1 formation, it has prompted a change in the make-up of the midfield.

Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara were the double anchor against West Ham, although the latter was substituted before the hour as the Reds sought greater height at defending set-pieces. However, Fabinho underwhelmed during his outing, leaving Klopp with a decision to make over whether to recall the Brazilian. The versatile Milner is another possibility.

Roberto Firmino operated in the attacking midfield/second striker role once again in midweek, although there a multitude of options open to Klopp in that role.

The return to action of Curtis Jones has strengthened the hand of the Reds boss both in the middle and on the left, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the bench for the first time this season. Naby Keita has resumed training but Arthur Melo is out until next year.

Salah choice

Fabio Carvalho began on the left flank against West Ham in the absence of injured duo Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz, but was replaced for the final half-hour by the returning Jones. They would appear the two options on that wing, although Darwin Nunez could do a job there.

Much will depend on whether Nunez remains down the middle or Mohamed Salah is switched back into a central role from the right wing. That could give Harvey Elliott a run on the flank having ended Wednesday's game in the position.

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