Formation switch as Carvalho comes in from the start
Ian Doyle: Same again admitted Jurgen Klopp when asked which players he’d have available for today’s Premier League visit of Bournemouth.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean the same starting line-up. And I’d be inclined to shake things up a bit. Not least with a new formation.
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First, the perennials. Alisson Becker is in goal, Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez the centre-backs and Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back. However, I’d rotate Kostas Tsimikas in at left-back.
In midfield, it’s two sitting deep with Jordan Henderson alongside Fabinho.
Ahead of them, Fabio Carvalho merits a first start in an attacking midfield role with Harvey Elliott to his right and Luis Diaz wide left.
And up top, it’s time to get Mohamed Salah closer to goal in a central position.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Fabinho, Henderson; Elliott, Carvalho, Diaz; Salah.
Shake things up to stop sleepwalking into problems
Sean Bradbury: Two seasons ago when Liverpool had their prolonged slump over winter, injuries were clearly the main problem.
But there was also an element of sticking to 'Plan A' and hoping it would come good. It eventually did - but only when players returned from the sidelines meaning them and others could be restored to their natural positions.
With Thiago, Darwin Nunez and more still ruled out, I would shake things up here to hopefully avoid sleepwalking towards similar issues.
Fabio Carvalho comes in from the start as a no.10. He slots in just behind a central Mohamed Salah, and is flanked by Luis Diaz and Harvey Elliott.
Fabinho sits deep in midfield alongside Jordan Henderson to provide more protection. The backline is unchanged.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson; Elliott, Carvalho, Diaz; Salah.
Switch to 4-2-3-1 with different role for Salah
Theo Squires: With no returning players back in contention after injury to face Bournemouth, Jurgen Klopp's hands remain tied as Liverpool look to kick-start their season.
He's going to have to find a way to win with the same squad that was so disappointing at Old Trafford.
The back five picks itself with no other centre-backs available. Hopefully this weekend sees Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk rediscover some form.
I'm switching to a 4-2-3-1 formation for this one, so Jordan Henderson and Fabinho sit deep as the two. Meanwhile it's a change of role for Mohamed Salah with Liverpool in need of some goals. He loves facing the Cherries so he leads the attack.
Harvey Elliott moves up to the right wing as a result, while Fabio Carvalho gets a first start as the 10 in place of Roberto Firmino.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho; Elliott, Carvalho, Diaz; Salah.
A deserved full debut for Carvalho means Firmino is benched
Kyle Newbould: Twice in recent weeks when Liverpool have looked stale upfront, Carvalho has added the freshness of youth, and familiar opposition in Bournemouth - whom he played twice for Fulham last season - provides the perfect scene for a full debut.
Liverpool need stability at the back and that can only arise with consistency, so if Klopp can name an unchanged back-four he should - even amid calls for Robertson to be dropped.
Common among Reds fans is call for a formation change, and I agree that by steadying the ship with Fabinho and Henderson in a double-pivot you can free up a position further forward for Carvalho to work his magic in the no.10.
But the teenager's inclusion has to mean Firmino is benched, with the pair operating in similar spheres and likely to crowd the space. The solution is to push Salah upfront - the Egyptian is undoubtedly Liverpool's main goal threat - and play Elliott wide with Diaz on the other side.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson; Elliott, Carvalho, Diaz; Salah.
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