Liverpool are back in Premier League action on Saturday lunchtime as they travel to AFC Bournemouth, and they do so on a high after thrashing bitter-rivals Manchester United 7-0 in their last outing.
The Reds clinched an even more emphatic victory over the Cherries in the reverse fixture at Anfield, running out 9-0 winners to equal a Premier League record back in August.
Should Jurgen Klopp’s side make it a league double over Bournemouth, they will move up into the top four - at least for a few hours ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s home clash with Nottingham Forest.
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‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,’ as the old saying goes. After thrashing United so convincingly, any player could rightly feel aggrieved if they dropped out of the starting XI for the trip to the Vitality Stadium. But with a trip to Real Madrid also on the horizon, perhaps Klopp will spring one or two changes. We take a look at the side he might pick…
Unchanged back five
Having made it five Premier League clean sheets in a row against United, the back five stays as it is with Ibrahima Konate continuing at centre-back alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Andy Robertson was arguably Liverpool’s best player against the Red Devils, and while Kostas Tsimikas proved again against Wolves how competent he is as a rotational option, it would be a surprise if the Scotland captain found himself back on the bench.
Bajcetic back in
Stefan Bajcetic has been one of the Reds’ star performers since the turn of the year, but found himself utilised only as a substitute against United. If there is to be a change in midfield, the young Spaniard will come back into the starting XI.
Harvey Elliott shone against United so he keeps his place, leaving it between the experienced pair of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson for whom drops out. Bajcetic’s role is determined accordingly, and he could be the ‘number six’ for this one if the Brazilian’s legs are spared.
Jota and Firmino wait in the wings
If Klopp fancies a change in his attack, you don’t envy him having to call one of Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo or Mohamed Salah into his office to inform them that they will only be a substitute against Bournemouth after all three scored braces against United.
Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino will both be pushing for starts, but you’d expect the German to avoid such a chat and to keep his in-form attacking trio together. It is currently first-choice after all, and three points in the quest for a top-four finish is more important than a trip to the Bernabeu and fanciful notion of overturning a 5-2 deficit.
Besides, Klopp is safe in the knowledge that he can call upon as many as five substitutes with both the Portuguese and Brazilian waiting in the wings should he wish to rest legs in the second half.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Roberson; Elliott, Bajcetic, Henderson; Salah, Gakpo, Nunez.
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