This weekend, Liverpool will host Nottingham Forest at Anfield, hoping to replicate the form that led to an emphatic 6-1 thrashing at Elland Road. The Reds are coming off a 2-2 draw against Arsenal eight days earlier, and are looking to improve upon their previous fixture against Saturday’s visitors, where a 55th-minute strike from former Red Taiwo Awoniyi was enough to give Forest all three points back in October.
Jurgen Klopp has experimented with Liverpool’s shape in recent fixtures, with Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s position becoming a key talking point and offering Klopp an element of flexibility in his side. In his press conference, Klopp provided some “unfortunate” injury news: Thiago came off the bench against both Arsenal and Leeds following his recovery from a hip flexor injury and could be in contention for a first league start since the beginning of February. That may involve displacing Curtis Jones in the middle of the park, who has enjoyed three successive starts during an injury-plagued campaign of his own.
The injury to Roberto Firmino means we are less likely to see the 4-2-3-1 that Klopp has employed at various points this season. Diogo Jota ended a 372-day wait for a Liverpool goal with a brace against Leeds and the manager could look to continue that momentum against Forest. Neco Elliot was an ever-present fixture in the side until the last couple of weeks and could make his return, with the manager commenting that the 20-year-old has been training “exceptionally” in the meantime.
This is how Liverpool’s starting XI could look this weekend: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo. An alternative starting eleven could look something like this: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dik, Tsimikas; Henderson, Elliot, Thiago; Salah, Jota, Gakpo.
Liverpool are looking to make it back-to-back wins for the Reds as they aim for European spots and momentum over the course of the next eight fixtures. With plenty of options available to the manager, another win would be a welcome sight for Liverpool fans.