Time to switch things up
Mark Wakefield: Liverpool’s final match before the transfer window closes, could we see a very different situation by the time the Merseyside derby rolls around at the weekend?
That’s an idea to ponder, but for now Jurgen Klopp will have to make do with the fit options at his disposal for Newcastle United. Yes, Curtis Jones, Joel Matip and Calvin Ramsay are in training, but I do not expect any of them to start tonight.
Alisson will be in goal, but I would make one change to the back four. Kostas Tsimikas deserves a start in this one, and it gives Andy Robertson a rest ahead of the derby. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk should retain their places.
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This is where I would make further alterations. With injury hitting Liverpool’s midfield hard, this could be a chance to switch things up.
I would go with a double pivot of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, and give Harvey Elliott a rest. James Milner could come in as a substitute later on in the game, if needed.
Then in a forward trio behind the main striker, I would have Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah on either wing, with Fabio Carvalho operating in the No.10 role. He’s impressed when called upon so far, and he deserves a start.
That leaves Roberto Firmino to lead the line once again.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Fabinho, Henderson; Salah, Carvalho, Diaz; Firmino.
New role for Fabio Carvalho
Richard Garnett: If it ain't broke don't fix it, goes the saying.
Liverpool's 9-0 hammering of poor - and now managerless - Bournemouth was an afternoon to remember. Any player who was part of that demolition would certainly feel a bit hard done by to be left out for the visit of Newcastle United this evening.
With Alisson Becker in goal - fresh from a clean sheet - I'm sticking with the same back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson.
The temptation to bring Joel Matip back into this side is high, but his lack of minutes on the training ground following a return from injury means this game has probably arrived a little too soon for him.
Midfield continues to be a bit of a puzzle, but with a question mark over Harvey Elliott's fitness following his half-time withdrawal against the Cherries, I'm making one change here. Out goes Elliott and in comes Fabio Carvalho for his first Premier League start under Jurgen Klopp. With Fabinho at the base and Jordan Henderson alongside Carvalho, that's my midfield.
Up front, the options are still pretty restricted, so you won't be surprised to see me picking a front three of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Luis Diaz.
Salah somehow failed to get his name on the scoresheet at the weekend, missing a couple of sitters, but I'd be worried about him tonight if I was the Magpies.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Carvalho; Salah, Firmino, Diaz.
Give Kostas Tsimikas a start
Keifer MacDonald: So it's the visit of Newcastle United to Anfield that will give Jurgen Klopp and his side the chance to record back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time since May.
The visit of the Magpies signals the start of a busy period for the Reds, with three games per week becoming mandatory just weeks into the new season. That, no doubt, means Klopp will be forced to use his full squad - or whatever is left of it after an abundance of additions to the treatment table - if he is to combat the intensity of the pre-World Cup fixture schedule.
However, for Newcastle on Wednesday, it will be near enough the same team for Liverpool just four days after their impressive 9-0 thrashing of Bournemouth.
Alisson will start as usual, behind the familiar defensive make-up of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk. However, after another impressive cameo from the substitutes' bench on Saturday, Kostas Tsimikas could make his first start of the campaign at left-back.
There's potential for changes in midfield too, with Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho, who both netted their first Premier League goals for the club against the Cherries, fighting for the final position alongside Jordan Henderson and Fabinho
Given the Reds' upcoming fixture list, with games against Everton and Napoli to follow, I'd expect Carvalho to be given the nod for this one after a string of eye-catching displays thus far this season.
In attack it's unchanged as Darwin Nunez serves the final game of his suspension, with Roberto Firmino and Luis Diaz keeping their places alongside Mohamed Salah, who will be looking to bounce back after firing a blank against Bournemouth on Saturday.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Fabinho, Henderson, Carvalho; Salah, Firmino, Diaz.
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