Paul Gorst - Matip starts as Anfield expectation clear
The big games just keep getting bigger for Jurgen Klopp, don't they?
Real Madrid, in the knockout stages of the Champions League: this is what it's all about for Liverpool. And given the momentum that has just started to build in the last eight days or so, I expect Anfield to be red hot this evening.
In truth, there aren't too many selection dilemmas for me, but maybe the first one is at centre-back. Does Klopp go for Joel Matip or Joe Gomez to partner Virgil van Dijk? I'm going for the former, just. Back-to-back clean sheets should at least inspire some confidence from the back four.
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In midfield, the major call is whether to stick with Stefan Bajcetic or not? It would be, by some distance, the most sizable fixture of his fledgling career to date, but he's done nothing to suggest the scale of the event will get the better of him if picked, so he's in for me. Fabinho and Jordan Henderson are retained too.
Up top, Darwin Nunez has seemingly been passed fit after a shoulder injury scare and while Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino are vying for recalls of their own, I see no issue with keeping faith with Cody Gakpo, who is just about starting to take flight with two goals in as many games.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Bajcetic, Fabinho, Henderson; Salah, Gakpo, Nunez.
Ian Doyle - Changes can wait as Reds go again
Whatever happens this evening, we can be assured of one thing - Liverpool are going to make a number of changes.
That, though, can wait for the Premier League clash at Crystal Palace on Saturday. Against Real Madrid in the Champions League, there may be very few as Jurgen Klopp looks to maintain momentum after successive wins.
And I believe there's just enough gas left in the tank - at least for the start of the game - for the Reds to stick with what they have.
That means Alisson Becker in goal, Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez at centre-back, and Andy Robertson at left-back.
The midfield remains Fabinho as the anchor with Stefan Bajcetic left and Jordan Henderson right.
And assuming Darwin Nunez has survived since training yesterday, he's on the left of the attack, with Cody Gakpo down the middle and Mohamed Salah on the right.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Bajcetic; Salah, Gakpo, Nunez.
Theo Squires - Nunez is the only dilemma
Liverpool vs Real Madrid, here we go again. A fixture that hasn’t been kind to the Reds in recent years, but surely Jurgen Klopp’s men, backed by a full vocal Anfield, are long overdue a victory over them?
There’s really only one selection dilemma for the German going into this one and that’s regarding Darwin Nunez. Having been forced off with a shoulder injury against Newcastle United, is he fit to start?
His social media activity after coming through training would suggest so, so captain chaos keeps his place on the left as Liverpool unleash him to cause havoc. As a result, Cody Gakpo continues down the middle with Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino kept in reserve.
Fabinho starts against his former club, while Jordan Henderson also keeps his place. Meanwhile, Stefan Bajcetic gets the nod against his homeland’s biggest giants in the biggest night of the young Spaniard’s career to date - a deserved reward for his efforts this season.
Meanwhile, having come through Newcastle unscathed and ultimately got better as the game wore on, Virgil van Dijk is back to untouchable status as part of an unchanged back five. An unchanged side after an impressive enough victory away at St. James’ Park, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Bajcetic; Salah, Gakpo, Nunez.
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