Another day, another step nearer to Jurgen Klopp leaving Liverpool. But there are jobs to be done before then, starting with Burnley at home in the Premier League this afternoon.
A rare 3pm Saturday kick-off, would you believe.
What, then, is Klopp to do?
The illness and injuries going through the squad at the moment do make it a bit tricky to determine some selections, but Alisson Becker should be in goal. Virgil van Dijk is one centre-back, and I’d have Jarell Quansah in as the other with Ibrahima Konate suspended. Joe Gomez, if fit, needs to stay in the team and can play at left-back. Otherwise, Andy Robertson comes in for his first start since October. Trent Alexander-Arnold is the right-back.
In midfield, the return of Wataru Endo has opened up the possibility of pushing Alexis Mac Allister upfield a bit, which should happen. Curtis Jones can shift across from left to right in the engine room.
Up top, Darwin Nunez can return down the middle and Luis Diaz is the form player and can continue on the left. On the right, Diogo Jota gets the nod.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Gomez; Endo, Jones, Mac Allister; Jota, Nunez, Diaz
Paul Gorst – Endo comes straight in
After last week’s defeat at Arsenal, this 3pm Saturday visit from relegation-threatened Burnley has taken on extra importance for Jurgen Klopp today.
It remains to be seen how bad that outbreak of “flu” is within the Reds’ squad and who have been impacted by it but we know Klopp heads into this one already without as many as nine players to choose from.
Ibrahima Konate is one of those as he sits it out through suspension so Jarell Quansah comes back into the team alongside Virgil van Dijk with Trent Alexander-Arnold starting and Andy Robertson coming back in for his first start since early October. The Scotland captain needs minutes and this is an ideal chance. The in-form Joe Gomez can sit out.
In midfield, Wataru Endo comes back after his exertions for Japan at the Asia Cup, which frees up Alexis Mac Allister to move further forward in his more favoured No.8 position with Curtis Jones on the other side of the Argentina World Cup winner.
Up top, Darwin Nunez can start alongside Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz. It was difficult to tell between Jota and Nunez who was on the right of that front three in the last match at Anfield when Chelsea were dismantled 4-1 but it proved to be devastating on the night, so more of the same today.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, Mac Allister, Jones; Jota, Nunez, Diaz
Theo Squires – Robertson returns to XI
Liverpool are back down to the bare bones after injuries, suspension, and illness, meaning Jurgen Klopp has limited selection posers once again for the visit of Burnley. It was fun while it lasted.
Jarell Quansah starts at centre-back in the absence of the suspended Ibrahima Konate, while Trent Alexander-Arnold continues at right-back. With Joe Gomez missing training on Thursday, and no injury update forthcoming from Klopp on Friday, it would appear he was one of the players to succumb to illness. Consequently, Andy Robertson gets a first start since his return to fitness.
Wataru Endo goes straight into the starting XI following his return from the Asian Cup, with Alexis Mac Allister free to play further forward as a result.
In attack, Darwin Nunez returns to lead the line, with Diogo Jota stationed on the right and Luis Diaz out on the left.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Endo, Jones; Jota, Nunez, Diaz
By liverpoolecho.co.uk