Jurgen Klopp will be forced to again return to the drawing board after Liverpool’s miserable home defeat to Leeds United on Saturday night.
Crysencio Summerville scored a last-minute winner for the Peacocks as the Reds suffered their first Premier League home defeat in front of fans since April 2017, despite Mohamed Salah cancelling out Rodrigo’s early opener following a defensive mix-up between Joe Gomez and Alisson Becker.
Liverpool are back in action on Tuesday night as they welcome Napoli to Anfield in their final Champions League group game. Having been thrashed 4-1 by the Serie A outfit in Italy, it is at least some consolation for the Reds that their place in the knockout stages is already secured as they prepare for their rematch against Europe’s most in-form side this season.
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With the diamond formation failing against Leeds, it would be no surprise if Klopp turned to a new system once again against Napoli. And with top spot unlikely given the thrashing his side suffered in Naples, the German could make a number of changes and experiment in a low-risk bid to resurrect Liverpool’s fortunes on Tuesday night.
Ibou comes in
With Joe Gomez again coming in for criticism for his showing against Leeds, the centre-back is likely to make way for the returning Ibrahima Konate against Napoli. The Frenchman hasn’t played since the Reds’ 7-1 victory over Rangers, but has been an unused substitute in each of their last two matches.
Now available to start, he is likely to partner Virgil van Dijk with Joel Matip still sidelined. Meanwhile, expect one change at full-back with Calvin Ramsay, James Milner and Kostas Tsimikas all waiting in the wings.
The Scotland youth international is yet to make his senior debut for Liverpool after injury, but has made three appearances for the Under-21s this month, scoring against both Accrington Stanley and West Ham. However, having lasted an hour against the Hammers as his game-time is gradually increased, a substitute role is perhaps more likely if he is to be turned to, with the League Cup clash with Derby County a more likely option for the right-back’s first start.
As a result, Tsimikas gets the nod at left-back in place of Andy Robertson, who completed the full 90 minutes against Leeds. Trent Alexander-Arnold was withdrawn early so keeps his place with Klopp reluctant to make wholesale changes in defence.
Change of formation
Since discarding his tried and trusted 4-3-3 formation earlier this month, Klopp originally turned to a 4-4-2 set-up before switching to a diamond system against both Ajax and Leeds. While Liverpool would win 3-0 away against the Dutch side playing such a way, it really did not work against the struggling Yorkshire outfit with the Reds second best in midfield from start to finish.
Harvey Elliott and Fabinho both struggled and were replaced just after the hour-mark against Jesse Marsch’s side. Given the England Under-21s international has started five of the last six matches while the Brazilian remains horribly out of form, both drop out against Napoli.
As a result, Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara both start in midfield as the Reds again switch formation, this time opting for a 4-2-3-1 system in a bid to revive their fortunes.
Carvalho at number 10
Fabio Carvalho impressed playing as a number 10 for Fulham last season but hasn’t yet been turned to in his favoured position since joining Liverpool, with Klopp not creating such a role for him. With the Napoli game a perfect chance to experiment, now would be an ideal time to unleash the Portugal Under-21s international behind a main striker.
Roberto Firmino has started all of the Reds’ last six outings, and seven of their nine matches throughout October as injuries to both Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz saw the Brazilian turned to more. But with his impressing goalscoring run from the start of the month now over, Firmino makes way for Jota.
Darwin Nunez leads the line with Salah reverting to his traditional role on the right. And Curtis Jones gets the nod on the left-wing as Liverpool try something different once again.
Possible Liverpool starting XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Carvalho, Jones; Nunez.
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