Liverpool lineup to face Sheffield United in the Premier League – predicted

© ProShots

Liverpool kicked off December with a bang, beating Fulham 4-3 in the most dramatic of circumstances.

The Reds scored four goal-of-the-season contenders in one afternoon and came back from 3-2 down to clinch victory at Anfield.

READ MORE: Liverpool 4-3 Fulham – Player Ratings

If the rest of the fixtures this month are half as entertaining, we're in for one heck of a festive period.

Next up is a trip to Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United.

The Premier League's bottom club have just one win so far this season, but Liverpool will have to be wary of banana skins as they head over to Yorkshire.

The fixture pile-up does funny things to teams, while a combination of mounting injury concerns, the return of a certain referee and the fact that the Blades may have a new manager in charge for the game means this one may not be as cut and dried as many fans would like.

Here's how Jurgen Klopp could line his side up for Wednesday's clash.


GOALKEEPER & DEFENCE

© ProShots - Virgil van Dijk, Fulham, Pro Shots

Caoimhin Kelleher will have another chance to blow out the cobwebs after looking decidedly out of practice in the thrilling win over Fulham. The 25-year-old will likely remain the Reds' keeper for the next three matches while Alisson recovers from injury.

Fresh from his match-winning turn, in-form Trent Alexander-Arnold will start at right back, but whether he ends up in midfield as the game goes on is another question.

In the centre, Virgil van Dijk featuring freshly cut up knees – is likely to be partnered by Ibrahima Konate after Joel Matip was the latest Red to succumb to injury. Jarell Quansah and Joe Gomez are also options at centre back, though the latter may find himself starting on the left, if Klopp chooses to rest Kostas Tsimikas, who has now played five in a row.

MIDFIELD

© ProShots - Alexis Mac Allister, Liverpool, Fulham, Pro Shots

Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo both scored screamers at the weekend, but it is the former who is likely to continue at the base of midfield, despite the Japan captain's heroics.

Dominik Szobszlai could start once again, having played every Premier League game so far, though Harvey Elliott will fancy his chances of adding to his solitary Premier League start during the hectic Christmas period.

Curtis Jones may be preferred to Ryan Gravenberch, having played no part in the madness at Anfield at the weekend.

Thiago and Stefan Bajcetic remain out with injury, reducing Klopp's capacity to rotate in the middle, though youngster James McConnell may be an outside bet for the matchday squad.

ATTACK

© ProShots - Cody Gakpo, ProShots

Darwin Nuñez is now six games without a Liverpool goal, though the Uruguayan undoubtedly still adds a certain chaotic je ne sais quoi to Liverpool's forward line.

However, Cody Gakpo – who scored twice against LASK and impressed off the bench against Fulham – should be given a chance to start centrally here.

With Diogo Jota out, there are few pretenders to Luis Diaz's position on the left wing, while only injury is likely to stop Mohamed Salah starting. The Egyptian has just one goal in four previous meetings with the Blades.

Youngsters Ben Doak and Kaide Gordon could make the bench – and even the pitch as substitutes, depending on how the game goes.

PREDICTED LIVERPOOL STARTING XI TO FACE FULHAM:

(4-3-3): Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz. 

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