Liverpool beat Sparta Prague 6-1 in their midweek Europa League clash and that was the perfect warm up for their FA Cup clash against Manchester United.
Liverpool travel to Old Trafford on Sunday to take on their arch-rivals but based on their current forms, this one should not be too complex a match for Klopp’s men. Yes, they will have to be on their toes because United have several big-game players who can change things within a clash but Ten Hag’s boys are all over the place this season while Liverpool are chasing a quadruple.
The Reds are undefeated in their previous nine matches and in their last five games, they have scored 16 goals while conceding only three. Liverpool are very much the favourites to win on Sunday and progress to the semis but they cannot let their focus slip because quite surprisingly, United are the only side who have kept a clean sheet against Liverpool this campaign.
Liverpool’s team news and injury absentees:
Ibrahima Konate missed Liverpool’s 5-1 victory over Sparta Prague and Klopp has admitted that he is going to be absent at the weekend as well.
“Ibou didn’t train today, we have to see if he can train tomorrow but it will be a tight, tight race which we will probably lose, but we don’t know,” Klopp told the media on Friday.
Konate becomes the eighth player to be injured alongside important players like Thiago, Alisson, Trent and Diogo Jota. Konate’s absence means either 21-year-old Jarell Quansah or Joe Gomez will play alongside Van Dijk.
Ideally, it should be Gomez because he’s the more experienced one but young Quansah has been brilliant over the previous few matches and he deserves a start.
Ryan Gravenberch hasn’t played since the Carabao Cup final but he is back to full fitness and is in contention to start. His return is a big boost for the manager but he is not going to break Liverpool’s current midfield trio unless there’s a late injury setback.
The manager has said: “Ryan trained today again, so he’s ready. And the others, some of the others, [will return] after the international break.”
Mo Salah scored one and assisted three in their UEL win in midweek and he along with Nunez will hold onto their places but Gakpo will move to the bench, making way for Luis Diaz.
Liverpool predicted line up vs Man United:
Predicted XI(4-3-3): Kelleher; Robertson, Bradley, Van Dijk, Quansah; Szoboszlai, Endo, Mac Allister; Mo Salah, Nunez, Luis Diaz.
