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How Liverpool could line up against Arsenal

Sports Mole looks at how Premier League champions Liverpool could line up for Monday night's showdown with Arsenal at Anfield.

Liverpool welcome Arsenal to Anfield on Monday night for the first of two matches between the teams in the space of four days.

Episode one of the quickfire double-header comes in the Premier League as both sides look to continue their 100% starts to the season.

The champions have beaten Leeds United and Chelsea so far but will be wary of an Arsenal side that has already beaten them twice in their last seven games.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Jurgen Klopp could line his side up for the contest.



Possible LIV XI vs. ARS

Out: Jordan Henderson (thigh), Joel Matip (muscle), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee)
Doubtful: Joe Gomez (knee), James Milner (calf), Thiago Alcantara (unspecified), Alisson Becker (unspecified)

> Click here for Liverpool's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

Klopp has confirmed that Jordan Henderson will not be ready in time for Monday's match, having failed to recover from the thigh problem which forced him off at half time against Chelsea last weekend.

Thiago Alcantara replaced the skipper on that occasion and went on to make make more touches and passes than any Chelsea player despite only being on the field for 45 minutes, breaking a Premier League record along the way.

The summer signing had been expected to make his full debut in this match given Henderson's absence, although concerns have been raised over his fitness after he missed training on Saturday despite Klopp insisting he would be "in contention".

There is also some uncertainty as to which midfield role he will take up; Arsenal's attacking threat and Thiago's greater familiarity with having another holding midfielder alongside him could lead Klopp to play him in one of the more advanced roles, with Fabinho reverting to his usual spot in the middle of the park.

The Brazilian excelled after being called in as an emergency centre-back against Chelsea last weekend, but Joe Gomez is expected to have recovered from his slight knock in time for this match, having returned to training on Friday.

Joel Matip remains sidelined along with Henderson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, while James Milner is also likely to miss out with a calf strain.

Late questions have also been raised over the fitness of Alisson, who was absent from training on Friday and Saturday and will be replaced by Adrian if he fails a late fitnes test.

Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane will all return to the XI after being rested for the seven-goal haul against Lincoln City in midweek, although the performances of some players in that match would have left Klopp considering more regular first-team football for them.

Curtis Jones was one of those to star and he may even be rewarded with a starting spot in this match, although Georginio Wijnaldum and Naby Keita appear to be above him in the pecking order at the moment.

> Click here to see how Arsenal could line up for this match


Video prediction

Watch the Sports Mole Football Shorts prediction for this game below:


ID:416079:

Who will win Monday's Premier League clash between Liverpool and Arsenal?

Liverpool
Draw
Arsenal
Liverpool
0.0%
Draw
0.0%
Arsenal
0.0%
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Thiago Alcantara in action for Liverpool on September 20, 2020
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Combined XI: Liverpool vs. Arsenal
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