16 April 2023 , 23:50
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Liverpool could welcome back Luis Diaz for their trip to Leeds on Monday night.
The Reds have been without their Colombian star for months but could throw him straight into the starting XI at Elland Road despite his lack of action. Jurgen Klopp's side know their season is all but over in terms of chasing the top four, but will still be looking to end on a positive note.
Roberto Firmino came off the bench to rescue them against Arsenal last weekend and his header could be rewarded with a starting berth as he plays out the final weeks of his spell with the Reds. Mo Salah, who missed from the spot weekend, will be looking to bounce back.
Liverpool lost the reverse fixture before the World Cup - which remains Virgil van Dijk's only league defeat for the club on his own patch - meaning they will be looking for revenge against a Leeds side who shipped five at Elland Road last time out against Crystal Palace.
Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Thiago are expected to form a midfield three in Yorkshire in front of Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate. Trent Alexander-Arnold's defence was again called into question against Arsenal, but he was presented with a fresh role going forward that Klopp could look to build on.
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The German said: "Yeah, we have to see. It's just a possibility for us. How I said, we did that before in a lot of moments. In this game, I'm not sure how to say it, but it happened pretty much more often because we wanted it to happen more often. It was different to other times but it's good, it suited him.
Roberto Firmino was on the scoresheet last weekend (Getty Images)"But we have to see how that fits to other games. So it's absolutely possible that sometimes we will do it and sometimes not. Yeah, that's the situation, that's all. But for him, it was good. Trent, in the second half, with the ball was super-dominant and that was obviously really helpful."
Andy Robertson and Alisson should complete Liverpool's defensive unit for their trip to Yorkshire. A win would leave the Merseysiders nine points off Newcastle in fourth with eight games of the season remaining.
Klopp said on their mindset going forward: "We have nothing to lose really. We are in a position where we don't want to be in the table, that means we have to act a little bit like this. We have to try new things, we have to fight for things, that's how it is."
Liverpool predicted XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Firmino, Diaz