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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Sean Bradbury & Ian Doyle & Paul Gorst & Theo Squires & Richard Garnett

Liverpool line-ups vs Napoli as Fabinho and Joe Gomez bench decision made

Paul Gorst - Rotation and rest but only to a degree

With an out-of-sorts Liverpool entertaining arguably Europe's most in-form team in a dead-rubber, it's hard to imagine entering a Champions League game with less enthusiasm for Reds fans.

The big question for Klopp is how much he rotates tonight given that he won't want to end up with a third defeat in four at a time when there are bigger fish to fry later this week.

I don't think Klopp will go 'full League Cup' with regards to his lineup, but I think he will try to give vital rests for those who sorely need it.

Ibrahima Konate returns at centre-back and Kostas Tsimikas can come in at left-back. I'm tempted to give Trent Alexander-Arnold a rest too but a Calvin Ramsay debut in the European Cup against Napoli's standout Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is probably asking too much of the young Scot.

We can give Virgil van Dijk a rest ahead of Sunday's trip to Spurs, so Joe Gomez also starts. In midfield, James Milner can sit as the No.6 alongside Jordan Henderson and Curtis Jones. That can allow Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara to get some rest in the legs for the weekend.

Liverpool’s front three is basically the only three who are fit. Darwin Nunez, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah.

My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Gomez, Tsimikas; Milner, Henderson, Jones; Salah, Firmino, Nunez.

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Ian Doyle - Kelleher can have a go

Napoli are in town and that means, well, that Liverpool need to win by four goals to take anything tangible from this Champions League game. However, they can't afford to lose again and Jurgen Klopp will think carefully over who should start, although changes are needed to rest some weary legs.

In goal, Caoimhin Kelleher can have a go. He's waited long enough. Ibrahima Konate can come in at centre-back alongside Joe Gomez, who had a nightmare against Napoli but needs to rebuild confidence after some iffy recent showings. Kostas Tsimikas gets a run-out at left-back, with James Milner having a stint at right-back.

Midfield sees a return to the 4-2-3-1. That means Thiago Alcantara can start with Fabinho alongside him, the latter needing a bit of a kick up the backside. Ahead of them, I'd let Harvey Elliott run free in that advanced central role.

Up top, Mohamed Salah moves over to the right, Darwin Nunez stays up top and Curtis Jones can beaver away on the left. Expect to see Fabio Carvalho, Calvin Ramsay, Stefan Bajcetic and Roberto Firmino at some point, too.

My team (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Milner, Gomez, Konate, Tsimikas; Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Elliott, Jones; Nunez.

Theo Squires - Milner in the middle after media duties

With the chances of Liverpool usurping Napoli to clinch top spot in Group A rather slim, Jurgen Klopp is free to experiment and rotate against the Italians for the Reds’ final Champions League group game.

As a result, it’s another change of formation and a switch to 4-2-3-1 after the diamond catastrophically failed against Leeds United.

Ibrahima Konate is a welcome return after injury and starts at centre-back in place of Joe Gomez, while Kostas Tsimikas can come in for Andy Robertson. Calvin Ramsay’s debut can wait until being called up from the bench.

With James Milner on media duties on Monday, let’s assume he starts. Fabinho can keep his place alongside him, given he was brought off early against Leeds, Jordan Henderson wasn’t in team training yesterday and Thiago Alcantara can be rested for Tottenham.

The change of formation allows Fabio Carvalho to start in his favoured number 10 role for the first time, while Curtis Jones gets a chance to show what he can do on the left. Harvey Elliott and Roberto Firmino are both rested after busy Octobers with Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez making up the XI.

My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Fabinho, Milner; Salah, Carvalho, Jones; Nunez.

Sean Bradbury - Formation changes again as Konate returns

After two experiments with a midfield diamond, I would quickly abandon it. The Ajax result may have been good but Liverpool have largely lacked control in both of their last two games.

4-2-3-1 seems like the best bet at present given struggles in midfield and injury absences.

At the back, James Milner lines up along with the returning Ibrahima Konate, plus Virgil van Dijk and Kostas Tsimikas.

I would save Thiago and Jordan Henderson for Spurs at the weekend - so it's a double pivot of Fabinho and Curtis Jones here.

I'd like to see what Harvey Elliott can do in the central attacking role, so he occupies that tonight with Mohamed Salah and Fabio Carvalho either side of him.

Which leaves Darwin Nunez to lead the line and hopefully do some damage up front.

My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Milner, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Fabinho, Jones; Salah, Elliott, Carvalho; Nunez.

Rich Garnett - Strong starting side with plenty of changes later

Napoli will arrive at Anfield this evening unbeaten all season and with a 100% record in the Champions League, so they must be quaking in their boots at the thought of facing a Liverpool side that has just lost to Nottingham Forest and Leeds United.

Any suggestion that Jurgen Klopp will make wholesale changes for what could effectively be viewed as a dead-rubber can be confined to the dustbin. Liverpool need a win to get those awful Premier League defeats out of their system.

Klopp has often talked about playing with rhythm but right now you'd get a better tune out of a half-inflated whoopie cushion, so an evening's solid graft is surely in store.

Alisson Becker returns in goal but with longer studs.

Picking a right-back used to be a formality, but there is a decision to be made here. Liverpool need goals so I'm keeping faith with Trent Alexander-Arnold in the hope that he has some top-notch distribution up his sleeve. Joe Gomez endured a nightmare in Naples and didn't cover himself in glory on Saturday, so welcome back Ibrahima Konate alongside Virgil van Dijk. Andy Robertson is in at left-back ready to put in a few reducers on the visitors.

James Milner has already made 17 appearances this season, but he's back here again, this time in midfield alongside Thiago, with Jordan Henderson at the base. With Fabinho currently looking like he's towing a caravan, the Brazilian can be held back for the trip to Spurs.

Up top, it's Bobby Firmino down the middle, flanked by Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez. Expect plenty of in-match changes as the leggy Reds try to keep pace with their high-energy visitors.

My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Milner, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Firmino, Nunez.

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