Liverpool starting XI to face Arsenal - Predicted

Here's our predicted starting XI for Liverpool as they host Arsenal at Anfield in the Premier League this weekend. It promises to be one of the biggest games of the season.

Liverpool go into the weekend just one point behind their opponents, Arsenal. The two teams also hold onto first and second in the Premier League but that could change quite dramatically depending on results.

Aston Villa, after all, are level on points with Liverpool. Unai Emery's team could leapfrog both if they win and the Anfield fixture finishes with a point apiece. Villa are ready to move into second regardless of the result, in fact - they'll climb above either Liverpool or Arsenal with a win.

The Reds know, then, that victory gives them top spot at Christmas. They'll hope this is more of a 'West Ham' performance than a 'Manchester United' one if they want to secure that.

But who will Jurgen Klopp select? That's the big question and he certainly has options for his starting XI. Let's have a look at them.

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Goalkeeper & Defence

Alisson Becker will start in goal - that's a guarantee. Virgil van Dijk is another certainty at the back and Ibrahima Konaté almost certainly starts alongside him. The pair played limited minutes in midweek, swapping out for one another in the second half.

The full-backs are an interesting one. The 'easy' options is to pick Kostas Tsimikas and Trent Alexander-Arnold. But there are more complicated ways to go, too.

Joe Gomez could come in for either player. There's an idea that he could be better-suited to playing up against Bukayo Saka at left-back, especially as Tsimikas played the full 90 against West Ham. Then again, so did Gomez.

Alexander-Arnold's form in midfield creates an argument for him starting there and Gomez playing right-back. Ultimately, though, we imagine Klopp won't risk anything new and will go with traditional full-back options.

Midfield

Wataru Endo and Dominik Szoboszlai both shone brightly against West Ham. Both also went off on 60 minutes with Van Dijk - that's a pretty good sign that they'll start against Arsenal, especially after their respective performances.

But who gets the other place? Alexis Mac Allister will be missing until the New Year, so he's out. Harvey Elliott is a solid choice and he certainly deserves to get another Premier League start soon. Ryan Gravenberch will be back and is the freshest option as he missed the midweek game.

Curtis Jones is the 'obvious' option, though, after his fantastic two-goal display. Jurgen Klopp talked about hoping this was a moment for him to take a 'real step forward'. He should be allowed to do just that with a start against Arsenal.

Attack

Mohamed Salah starts, of course. He only played half an hour in the Carabao Cup but still managed to score - not that there was any real way he wasn't starting against Arsenal.

Then there are questions. Darwin Nunez played the entire game against West Ham and started against Manchester United. That's likely a sign that he steps aside for Arsenal, with Luis Diaz coming in on the left flank. The Uruguayan was really impressive, though - possibly impressive enough that Klopp keeps him in.

Cody Gakpo played well against West Ham but didn't start at the weekend. That almost certainly guarantees him the starting spot in the middle of attack and rightly so.

Predicted Liverpool XI vs Arsenal

(4-3-3): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Endo, Szoboszlai, Jones, Salah, Gakpo, Diaz;