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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle & Paul Gorst & Theo Squires

Liverpool line-ups vs Nottingham Forest as Darwin Nunez and Thiago Alcantara decisions made

Ian Doyle - Rotation is a must for Jurgen Klopp

The first of five games in 15 days that will effectively decide what Liverpool can play for during the closing few weeks of the season.

Rotation is a must for Jurgen Klopp. Just not quite yet, though. And having done well in the last two games, the temptation is to stick with the same starting line-up again. So why not?

That means Alisson Becker in goal, Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk at centre-back and Andy Robertson at left-back. Trent Alexander-Arnold can carry on with that new role of his - we'll come up with a proper name for it eventually, but inverted right-back will have to do for now.

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In midfield, Fabinho is the anchor with Jordan Henderson to his right and Curtis Jones to the left. And up top, Cody Gakpo leads the line with Mohamed Salah on the right and Diogo Jota the opposite flank.

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

Paul Gorst - Nunez comes in for Jota

Having hammered Leeds on Monday night, Jurgen Klopp might be thinking about going unchanged for Nottingham Forest.

But with West Ham to come on Wednesday night, there is also merit in making use of his squad for the 3pm kick-off.

The back five remains unchanged at least. Trent Alexander-Arnold might operate more as a midfielder at times but he’s a right-back officially alongside Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson.

In midfield, Thiago Alcantara and Harvey Elliott return alongside Fabinho. The two ball-playing midfielders can help carve open the Forest defence alongside Alexander-Arnold.

Up top, Darwin Nunez comes in for Diogo Jota on the left with Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah keeping their places.

My team: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Konate, Robertson; Fabinho, Thiago, Elliott; Salah, Gakpo, Nunez.

Theo Squires - The 4-3-3/3-2-2-3 formation is here to stay

After dismantling Leeds so emphatically and having nearly all week on the training pitch, minimal changes are needed for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest.

The 4-3-3/3-2-2-3 formation is here to stay with Trent Alexander-Arnold as an inverted full-back. As a result, the back five stays the same as they continue to get to grips with the tweaked set-up.

Curtis Jones has stood out in the last few matches so he keeps his place. Thiago Alcantara can make a starting return though, with the Scouser switching sides as a result as Jordan Henderson drops to the bench.

And in attack, despite Diogo Jota's Monday night brace, Darwin Nunez comes back into the side at the Portuguese's expense.

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

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