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‘Matip enters but Firmino gives respite’
Paul Gorst: Three points in Italy tonight will give Liverpool a big step forward in their goal of knockout football in the Champions League in the New Year.
But given that the games continue to be intense and fast, with a certain visit to Manchester City on Sunday, how will Jurgen Klopp tackle this?
Alisson Becker will keep his place in goal behind the backs of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez and Andy Robertson. The last piece of that puzzle could be Joel Matip, given his return to training.
The defender will have to prove his long-term durability in the coming months, and while Sunday’s game at the Etihad will be huge, it is a case of necessity that is at the heart of the Reds’ defense right now.
In midfield, I’m going for Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Gini Wijnaldum as a base for Liverpool to build something away from home tonight. Naby Keita, now back in training, can wait behind the scenes if necessary.
Above, Diogo Jota’s claims simply can’t be ignored, so Roberto Firmino takes me a breather with Sadio Mane in the middle.
My team (4-3-3) : Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gómez, Matip, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Milner; You’re wrong, Mane, Jota.
‘Matip should start and Jones should try again’
Ian Doyle: If it’s midweek, it’s the Champions League.
At least that’s how it feels right now for Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool.
And the five substitutes rule means that the starting lineup against Atalanta tonight will be somewhat different from the team that finishes it.
But that will not prevent us from having a bet on what should be done in Bergamo.
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For starters, who starts as center back alongside Joe Gómez?
Joel Matip should and Liverpool can see how things go. Rhys Williams can always get into the second half.
The rest of the defense continues as usual, although Kostas Tsimikas could be left out at some point.
The midfield is complicated.
James Milner has become a regular on the ‘midweek’ team and Curtis Jones should try again. Jordan Henderson can start and Gini Wijnaldum will replace him at halftime.
Up front, Diogo Jota deserves a space to the left, while Mohamed Salah is to the right.
Takumi Minamino got upset in the last match of the Champions League, so let’s see if he can improve with a slightly stronger attack.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Gomez, Robertson; Henderson, Milner, Jones; Salah, Minamino, Jota.
‘Jones gets the nod and Williams begins’
Connor Dunn: Four of the five from Liverpool choose themselves tonight as my colleague Paul has already pointed out.
Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez and Robertson will assume their positions, but ranking fifth at the heart of my defense is young Rhys Williams.
Joel Matip’s injury record is not to be admired and he will be desperately needed for Sunday’s game at the Etihad, so my idea of giving him minutes here and starting to prepare him for that match against Man City is to bring him into the break.
My hope is that Liverpool are in a more comfortable position after the first 45 minutes of scoring on the board and can ease Matip into the game.
I’m going for a three midfield from Jordan Henderson, Gini Wijnaldum and Curtis Jones.
The young man receives the go-ahead because he understands that Atalanta plays very offensive football and that it could be a good game for Jones to find spaces and show what he can do once more for the Reds forward, and I also think he deserves a chance alongside players like Henderson in the middle, without having taken a misstep in his fledgling career.
Leading my line are Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota. I think it’s time to get Firmino out of the line of fire and give Jota a left exit early on with Mane in the middle to show that Liverpool have found another devastating combination.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gómez, Williams, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Jones; Bad, Mane, Jota.
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