The Premier League matchup between Liverpool and Luton Town is coming up, and Jurgen Klopp will have some difficult choices to make.
Liverpool defeated Bournemouth in the League Cup on Wednesday night, extending their winning start to the campaign.
The Reds won 2-1 with to goals from Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez, setting up a quarterfinal matchup at home against West Ham United the following month.
Liverpool will now visit Luton Town on Sunday afternoon to continue their Premier League matchup.
And here we look ahead to the changes Jurgen Klopp could make when his club are next in action.
Defensive Makeover
Klopp may have gone further at the Vitality Stadium than was expected because there are more than three days between the trip to Bournemouth and the match at Luton.
However, major adjustments to the starting lineup at Kenilworth Road are still probably in store, especially in defence. Caoimhin Kelleher will be replaced in goal by Alisson Becker, while Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is still injured, will likely start at right back instead of Joe Gomez.
Joel Matip and Jarell Quansah performed admirably at centre back for Bournemouth, while Gomez is an additional option. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate were rested in the middle of the week and are anticipated to return. Since Luke Chambers did not play on Wednesday and Andy Robertson is injured, Kostas Tsimikas is the favourite to remain at left back.
Midfield returns
During the Bournemouth match, Klopp played about with his midfield choices, but on the weekend, it is likely that he will stick with a more established starting lineup.
Given Ryan Gravenberch’s performance filling in for Curtis Jones, who has served a three-match domestic suspension, the key choice is whether to bring him back to the left of the midfield three. On Wednesday, though, Jones was outstanding.
Wataru Endo would thus go back to number six, where Alexis Mac Allister would take his place. Dominik Szoboszlai, who began the week on the wing, would move back to the right of the triad.
While Bobby Clark, Stefan Bajcetic, and Thiago Alcantara are not yet ready for first-team consideration, Harvey Elliott is an additional alternative.
Klopp needs to make a decision.
Despite the fact that Mohamed Salah started just his fourth League Cup match for Liverpool on Wednesday, it would be shocking if the Egyptian didn’t start this weekend Premier League.
It’s also unclear who starts on the left, with Luis Diaz probably staying out, despite Nunez’s impressive comeback goal from the bench highlighting why he’s now the starter as the central striker.
In the Premier League past weekend, Jota scored the first goal against Nottingham Forest, matching Gakpo’s opening goal at Bournemouth. In contrast, Ben Doak resumed training this week following an injury layoff.
