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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Sean Bradbury & Ian Doyle & Paul Gorst

Liverpool line-ups for Brighton as Naby Keita, Ben Doak and formation decisions made

Paul Gorst - Changes in midfield and up front

With Darwin Nunez adding to an already lengthy injury list up top, the options are limited for Jurgen Klopp in the final third.

That means I'm recalling Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to the front three, moving Cody Gakpo to the centre for his Premier League debut and leaving Mohamed Salah on the right.

In midfield, there's a first start of the season for Naby Keita alongside Thiago Alcantara and Fabinho. Jordan Henderson and Harvey Elliott can sit it out on the bench.

READ MORE: Full Liverpool squad available to face Brighton as fresh injury doubt emerges

READ MORE: We simulated Brighton vs Liverpool to get a Premier League score prediction

At the back, it's as you were. With Virgil van Dijk still sidelined and the Reds not having played for a week, there's no real need to adjust the back five.

This is a big one for Jurgen Klopp and his team. If they are serious about the top four, it has to start on the south coast this weekend.

My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Konate, Robertson; Fabinho, Keita, Thiago; Salah, Gakpo, Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Ian Doyle - Fresh legs in midfield and a different formation

Liverpool haven't been very good lately and Brighton isn't an easy place to go to, and not just because it's hundreds of miles away on the South Coast.

So it's time for some changes. At least that's what I'd be doing if I was Jurgen Klopp.

None in defence, though. That has to stay the same, with Alisson Becker in goal, Andy Robertson at left-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back and a centre-back pairing of Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip.

But it's time for some fresh legs in midfield and a different formation. That means two holding midfielders, although Naby Keita, who is coming in alongside Jordan Henderson, will have to be disciplined. Behind the front man can be Harvey Elliott.

Up top, there's no point in risking Darwin Nunez. Mohamed Salah is on the right, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back in on the left and Cody Gakpo down the middle. They can all interchange if they get bored.

My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Konate, Robertson; Henderson, Keita; Salah, Elliott, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Gakpo.

Sean Bradbury - Front three reshaped with Salah central

Something has to give after the midfield performances against Leicester, Brentford, Wolves...and pretty much all season.

I would have switched to 4-2-3-1, but that is difficult now with Nunez and Firmino both seemingly out. Instead it is a radical reshaping of the forward line in a bid to light a spark.

Cody Gakpo gets his Premier League debut on the left, with Mohamed Salah central - and Ben Doak on the right. If he's good enough, he's old enough!

In midfield, Naby Keita has to start. Fabinho and Thiago join him.

And at the back, Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip swap sides but otherwise it is unchanged.

My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Matip, Robertson; Fabinho, Keita, Thiago; Doak, Salah, Gakpo.

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