Liverpool narrowly got past Brighton this weekend in the Premier League and at the back of that 2-1 win they will now welcome Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.
Leverkusen won the Bundesliga title last season but they have made somewhat of a slow start this campaign because, after nine games, Alonso’s team have dropped points in five matches.
Playing at home, Liverpool will be the favourites to win but there’s no way we can write off Alonso’s team. These teams have very identical recent records because both of them are undefeated in 11 matches and while Liverpool are unbeaten in five home games, the defender German champions are unbeaten in 7 away matches.
Liverpool’s team news and injuries:
Ibrahima Konate had to be taken off in the second half of the Brighton game after picking up an arm injury but thankfully, the defender’s knock is not serious.
“Thanks for all the messages of support. My injury isn’t serious thankfully,” the defender has updated, as per the club’s official website.
“I had a scan today and it confirmed there is no break. I’ll be ready for the next game.”
Konate claims that he will be fit for midweek but if the French international is not ready then Joe Gomez will slot in alongside Van Dijk.
Alisson, Harvey Elliot, Chiesa and Diogo Jota are all going to be unavailable for the Champions League tie so Arne Slot does not have the luxury to make too many changes to the starting lineup which faced Brighton.
With Jota out injured, Nunez will hold onto the centre-forward’s role but Luis Diaz, who came off the bench at the weekend, will start on the left wing ahead of Gakpo.
For the Brighton game, Arne Slot once again chose Tsimikas ahead of Robertson but the Scottish international should come back into the side in midweek.
In the 2-1 win, Curtis Jones provided a key assist coming off the bench and he will most likely replace Szoboszlai in the No. 10 position.
Liverpool predicted lineup vs Bayer Leverkusen:
Predicted Starting Lineup(4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Robertson, Van Dijk, Gomez/Konate, Alexander-Arnold; Allister, Gravenberch; Curtis Jones, Gakpo, Salah; Nunez.
