Liverpool are next up against Newcastle United in the Premier League with Jurgen Klopp facing some selection posers
Liverpool earned their first Premier League win of 2023 when they secured a comfortable derby triumph over Everton on Monday night.
Goals from Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo eased the Reds to a 2-0 success over their neighbours at Anfield. Liverpool will now look to secure back-to-back victories for the first time since December when they travel to fourth-placed Newcastle United on Saturday evening.
And here we look ahead to the changes Jurgen Klopp could make when his team are next in action.
Klopp’s faith in standing by Joel Matip and Joe Gomez at centre-back after the horrors of Wolves the previous weekend was rewarded with the only Liverpool’s second clean sheet in the Premier League since October.
However, the return of Virgil van Dijk on the bench suggests the Dutchman is back in contention for a starting role at St James’ Park. Nat Phillips is another option with Ibrahima Konate still out.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has responded to a threat to his position at right-back, although Gomez could be an alternative if James Milner is required in midfield. Calvin Ramsay is injured, while Andy Robertson remains ahead of Kostas Tsimikas at left-back.
Alisson Becker is the undisputed number one between the sticks with Caoimhin Kelleher standing by as a more than able deputy.
Middle question
Restoring Fabinho and Jordan Henderson to the midfield alongside teenager Stefan Bajcetic helped Liverpool wrest the initiative against Everton in commanding fashion.
The hip injury to Thiago Alcantara has slightly restricted Klopp’s options in the engine room, but that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Curtis Jones and Arthur Melo didn’t make the matchday squad underlines the competition for places in midfield.
Both Naby Keita – who scored the winner at Newcastle last season – and James Milner came off the bench on Monday and will be pressing for a start, while Harvey Elliott is an alternative but has been used in attack lately.
Jota return?
The returns of Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino have given Klopp some welcome alternatives in attack, although Cody Gakpo down the middle, Darwin Nunez on the left and Mohamed Salah on the right formed a potent partnership. Elliott is another possible choice.
Firmino would appear the more likely of the returnees to be pushing for a start with Jota having been out for two months longer than the Brazilian. Fabio Carvalho didn’t make the bench against Everton, while Luis Diaz remains sidelined.
