Liverpool line-ups for Man United as Joe Gomez and Curtis Jones decisions made

Having rested a quartet of his big guns on Thursday in the Europa League and keeping a handful more on the bench in Belgium, Liverpool should be fully charged for this one.

The decision to leave Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker and Trent Alexander-Arnold back on Merseyside may yet prove to be inspired by the Reds boss, as well as the call to keep Luis Diaz and Dominik Szoboszlai unused at Lotto Park.

Alisson returns behind a back four of Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Kostas Tsimikas, who is named at left-back.

With no Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo starts at the base of the midfield with Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch slightly further forward.

Darwin Nunez leads the line in place of Cody Gakpo and Diaz and Salah return to the side on their respective flanks.

Anyone who thinks Manchester United are just going to roll over for Liverpool this afternoon clearly doesn’t know how football works.

In fact, it promises to be a tough old afternoon for Jurgen Klopp’s side in the Premier League at Anfield.

What, then, is the Reds boss to do?

Well, there’ll be plenty of changes from Thursday’s Europa League dead rubber. Not least in goal, where Alisson Becker returns, while Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kostas Tsimikas are right-back and left-back respectively. Virgil van Dijk is back as skipper at centre-back, and I’d partner him with Joe Gomez ahead of Ibrahima Konate.

In midfield, with Alexis Mac Allister missing, it has to be Wataru Endo in the number six role. To his right will be Dominik Szoboszlai, and I’d like Curtis Jones on the left. Ryan Gravenberch isn’t quite doing it at the moment.

Up front, Cody Gakpo didn’t impress in midweek so Darwin Nunez returns down the middle. Mohamed Salah is right with Luis Diaz on the left.

My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Endo, Szoboszlai, Jones; Salah, Nunez, Diaz

Tom Cavilla – Klopp has hinted at midfield setup

Can Jurgen Klopp pull off a similar scoreline to last season’s 7-0 hammering of Manchester United?

Liverpool head into today’s game at Anfield as the firm favourites to come out on top and you wouldn’t bet against the Reds inflicting another heavy defeat on their old foes.

Alisson will be the keeper to start between the sticks for this huge fixture, with Caoimhin Kelleher dropping back down to the bench after his midweek showing in Belgium.

In defence, Trent Alexander-Arnold will lead the way at right-back once again and Kostas Tsimikas can occupy the opposite flank in the continued absence of Andy Robertson. The ever-reliable Virgil van Dijk will be joined by Ibrahima Konate at centre-back, with Joel Matip missing out due to his serious injury.

Klopp’s side are looking slightly light in midfield due to Alexis Mac Allister’s recent setback, though this presents an opportunity for another player to stake a first-team claim. That Wataru Endo was taken off after 45 minutes of Thursday’s dead rubber suggests the Japan international is set to keep his place in the team, featuring alongside Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai.

The attack almost picks itself on this occasion, given the shoddy state of United’s injury-hit defence. Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah should be the way to go. Nunez will have a point to prove having gone eight games without a goal and what better time to score. Cody Gakpo, who shone in this fixture back in March, can be utilised as an effective option from the bench if needed.