Predicted Liverpool starting lineup for trip to Burnley

Will Castle
10 months ago

Liverpool will seek to get back to winning ways as they travel to relegation-threatened Burnley on Boxing Day.

The Reds are coming off the back of two consecutive Premier League draws at Anfield, with the most recent of these coming in a frustrating contest with table-toppers Arsenal last weekend.

They face a Burnley side that will be in high spirits despite their low league position, having just dispatched Fulham in a game that could prove crucial come the end of the season.

Liverpool have looked far from convincing against newly-promoted opposition this season, and Jurgen Klopp will surely be keen to buck this trend at Turf Moor.

However, with fixtures piling up and injury problems mounting, Klopp will have a selection headache going into Tuesday's contest.

Here's how Liverpool could line up against Burnley.

Defensive rotation

Liverpool were dealt another injury blow in a vulnerable position against Arsenal, as Kostas Tsimikas broke his collarbone after a tussle with Bukayo Saka sent him tumbling into Klopp, of all people.

It puts extra strain on Liverpool's options at left-back, with Andy Robertson already out with a shoulder injury.

Joe Gomez will all but definitely fill the void at the back, something he did with aplomb when coming on against the Gunners.

Elsewhere, expect Reds mainstays Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk to remain in the team. Despite a fantastic performance on Saturday, Ibrahima Konate could be rested - with Jarell Quansah playing in his stead.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Alisson will play in net.

Little need for change in the middle

Even though the Reds were unable to pick up all three points, Liverpool's midfield three put on a show against Arsenal - giving Klopp little incentive to switch things up.

Wataru Endo put in arguably his best performance in a Liverpool shirt, constantly getting stuck in and effectively cleaning up in front of Van Dijk and Konate.

And off the back of a brace against West Ham, Curtis Jones showed his quality, winning 100% of his duels throughout the contest.

Dominik Szoboszlai was arguably the weakest of the three despite still putting in a shift - and given his regular game time, there is a case to rest the Hungarian for Harvey Elliott, who has been a star off the bench for the Reds this season.

It wouldn't surprise me if Klopp stuck with same three in midfield, though.

Trial and error up top

What Liverpool are really missing at the moment is a regular source of goals.

The front three haven't been firing as of late, with goals only ever really coming from Liverpool's long-time talisman Mohamed Salah.

And with Luis Diaz suffering a knock against Arsenal, an attacking refresh should be expected against Burnley.

Going back to the system that was adopted towards the second half of last season, Cody Gakpo could lead the line, with Darwin Nunez operating on the left.

After his stunning equaliser against Arsenal, Salah obviously keeps his place on the right wing.

PREDICTED STARTING XI TO FACE BURNLEY

(4-3-3): Allison; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Gomez; Endo, Elliott, Jones; Salah, Gakpo, Nunez

 

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