[ad_1]
Liverpool will be searching for their fourth consecutive win in all competitions on Saturday when they travel to the City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest in the Premier League (12.30pm). Reds boss Jurgen Klopp will be sweating on the fitness of striker Darwin Nunez, who was taken off during the early stages of the second half when his side defeated West Ham on Wednesday night. And Express Sport takes a look at the starting team the German could roll with.
Goalkeeper – Alisson
Alisson saved a penalty from Jarrod Bowen in the victory over West Ham as he kept his fifth clean sheet of the season. The Brazil international dived to his right to keep out the effort as the Reds won the game 1-0. And Alisson will keep his place between the posts for this one.
Defence – Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson
Trent Alexander-Arnold returned to the starting team on Wednesday night after recovering from an ankle injury. The 24-year-old was forced off during his side’s 3-2 defeat to Arenal earlier this month and sat out the 7-1 Champions League thrashing of Rangers last week before returning for a cameo appearance against Manchester City on Sunday. The defender will be hoping to nail down a place in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad over the coming weeks and should line-up on the right side of a back four.
Andy Robertson should return to the team at left-back after coming on as a late substitute against the Hammers. Like Alexander-Arnold, Robertson is yet to reach his usual standards this season so will be hoping for a big performance against Steve Cooper’s men. Joe Gomez, meanwhile, should keep his place alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the backline.
JUST IN: Mauricio Pochettino has already given glowing verdict on Aston Villa
Forwards – Firmino, Nunez
Klopp’s formation switch in recent games has come off the back of a return to form for Roberto Firmino. The 31-year-old Brazil striker has bagged six goals in nine Premier League games this season, including braces against Bournemouth and Brighton. And he could partner Nunez up front if the ex-Benfica man is fit to start.
After taking Nunez off in midweek, Klopp revealed the player’s hamstring had been causing him issues but said the substitution was only precautionary. “He felt a little bit the hamstring at half time, so then you have to make early changes, which is absolutely fine. We can do that. With Darwin, at half time, everybody said ‘no it’s fine, it’s fine.’ But when somebody is five minutes on the bed then I’m concerned as well, it was a precaution.” And when asked for an update about the 23-year-old Uruguay striker on Friday, Klopp said: “We will see.”
WIN A FREE ENGLAND SHIRT FOR THE WORLD CUP
[ad_2]
