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Liverpool Echo

Sport

Ian Doyle & Theo Squires & Keifer MacDonald

Liverpool line-ups for Aston Villa as Roberto Firmino and Luis Diaz decisions made

Roberto Firmino Luis Diaz Aston Villa Villa Cody Gakpo Curtis Jones Fabinho Jordan Henderson Mohamed Salah Alisson Becker

Ian Doyle - Same XI as Leicester

Nearly there, folks. So very nearly there.

It will be an emotional occasion this afternoon as Anfield waves goodbye to four players who have, in different ways, contributed to success under Jurgen Klopp.

But will any of them line up against Aston Villa?

In a word, no.

In fact, I wouldn't be making any changes to the starting line-up. So that means Alisson Becker in goal, with Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right of defence, Andy Robertson left and Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate in the centre.

Midfield is Fabinho as the anchor, with skipper Jordan Henderson to his right and Curtis Jones to his left. And up top it's Cody Gakpo down the middle, Luis Diaz on the left and Mohamed Salah on the right.

My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Jones; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz.

GET INVOLVED: Firmino starts? Pick your XI to face Villa using our team selector

Theo Squires - Sentiment can wait

It’s going to be emotional at Anfield on Saturday as Liverpool bid farewell to Roberto Firmino, James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. But with a top four finish still possible, there is no room for sentimentality in the Reds camp against Aston Villa.

The back five can remain the same, while Milner will have to make do with Anfield send-off from the bench against his former club. As a result, the midfield is unchanged too with there a long enough gap between Monday’s trip to Leicester and Saturday’s visit of Villa for Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, and Curtis Jones to recharge their batteries.

Diogo Jota can come in for Luis Diaz in attack, with Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo keeping their places also. Only just back in team training, a substitute role at best was always going to be the limit of Firmino’s involvement.

Oxlade-Chamberlain hasn’t made a matchday squad during Liverpool’s nine-game unbeaten run, but he can replace Arthur Melo on the bench for his Anfield send-off with no new injuries reported. Meanwhile, Keita wasn’t pictured training in midweek so time will tell if he is actually available to feature or not.

My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Jones; Salah, Gakpo, Jota

FIRMINO: What was Bobby's best moment for the Reds? Vote in our poll below

Keifer MacDonald - Jota in to freshen up the attack

For one final time this season, Jurgen Klopp will send his side out at Anfield in the hope of concluding a turbulent campaign in a commanding manner on home soil.

With just two games remaining of the Premier League season, the Reds boss knows, despite the Anfield farewells that beckon this afternoon, that there is no room for sentiment as his side continues to chase a last-minute dive into the Champions League places.In doing so, he will name his first-choice defensive cohort with Alisson Becker, shielded by the revitalised Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson.

In midfield, after Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Curtis Jones dominated at the King Power on Monday night as Liverpool romped to an emphatic 3-0 victory, it's more of the same in that department as far as I'm concerned. James Milner can be afforded a late Anfield cameo should the Reds be successful in sweeping a resolute Aston Villa XI aside on Merseyside.

In attack, with Darwin Nunez still nursing a toe injury, Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo are joined by Diogo Jota, who takes Luis Diaz's place on the left.

My team (4-3-3): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Jones; Salah, Gakpo, Jota

Don't miss Bobby Firmino: Si Señor, an official Liverpool Football Club tribute souvenir magazine. Read Bobby Firmino's story in his own words, reliving some magical memories of the brilliant Brazilian through exclusive interviews given to the club's official matchday programme and magazine. Buy from club stores and Amazon now.

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