Jurgen Klopp’s final away game of the season is approaching, and with a rare extended break behind them, Liverpool may see some changes in the lineup for their match against Aston Villa. The Reds displayed their potential when the pressure was off in their previous game against Tottenham, although defensive lapses made the final moments unnecessarily tense.
With only three points at stake, Klopp hopes his team can maintain their freedom while also tightening up their defense against a Villa side that is vying for a top-four spot. Klopp spoke highly of Unai Emery’s team before the clash, but it’s worth noting that he has only lost to the Spaniard once in his career, way back in his first season at Anfield during the Europa League final. So, what kind of lineup will Klopp put together to secure another victory?
In his latest press conference, Klopp did not discuss team news, but images from Friday’s training session provided some insight into the squad’s situation. Before conceding two late goals against Spurs, Liverpool was playing some of their best football. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Klopp stick to the same formula. He expressed regret over Harvey Elliott’s lack of game time before his penultimate game, and after an impressive performance in the last match, it’s only fair that Elliott retains his place.
The fact that Jarell Quansah might once again keep Ibrahima Konate out of the side speaks volumes. This could mean that the Reds will remain unchanged for only the second time this season. The lineup would look like this: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, Elliott, Mac Allister; Salah, Diaz, Gakpo.
Having had eight days between games, Klopp won’t need to worry about rotation, but he might still be tempted to make some tweaks. Konate and Dominik Szoboszlai could return after two games on the bench, while Darwin Nunez hopes to regain his confidence from the start. If Robertson is unavailable, Joe Gomez could step in at left-back after five appearances as a substitute. The potential changes would result in the following lineup: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez; Endo, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Salah, Diaz, Nunez.
It’s unlikely that there will be any surprises when the teamsheet is revealed on Monday evening, but with Klopp embracing his notice period, you can never rule anything out. Villa will enter the match after experiencing disappointment in the Europa Conference League on Thursday, and Liverpool should not show signs of fatigue like they did in April. For one last time on the road under Klopp, the Reds will give it their all.