Jurgen Klopp has hinted Jordan Henderson will return for Liverpool away to Tottenham, but should the captain really start and who would make way?
The Reds attempt to translate the goalscoring and winning touch rediscovered in a record-breaking European night to the Premier League stage on Sunday.
An initially daunting clash with in-form Spurs now offers a big opportunity to use confidence gained from the historic win, to really spark the season to life by kick-starting a stuttering league campaign.
Despite watching his slightly rotated side produce their best performance this season in Slovenia, Klopp has suggested those who made way will be recalled at Wembley.
An instant return for Henderson in particular has already been suggested by the boss, and that leaves a big decision to make as to who the skipper replaces.
Team News
- Interesting selection ahead for Klopp after Reds’ stunning performance in Maribor
- Another lineup of select few changes likely for third game in eight days
- Jordan Henderson poised for starting XI recall along with Simon Mignolet
- Big decision for Klopp over who the captain replaces in midfield
- Joe Gomez also hopeful of instant comeback at right-back
- James Milner hoping to keep starting role after shining display in Maribor
- Trent Alexander-Arnold also eyeing second successive start
- Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain pushing for start after scoring first Reds goal
- Andy Robertson available and could return to matchday involvement
Liverpool’s XI vs. Spurs
Klopp seems set to resist the temptation of sticking with the side that romped to the biggest victory of his tenure with their finest performance of the campaign so far.
As stated, the boss has hinted Henderson will be restored and the captain’s recall is likely to come in a small number of changes as Klopp looks to retain consistency and rhythm in performance.
It’s also the most debatable of the likely alterations, with returns for Mignolet—for league duties—and Gomez—who should keep his place after impressing against Man United—both simple moves.
Indeed, there are big questions over who exactly Henderson replaces and whether he deserves to come straight back into a central unit that dominated Maribor from start to finish.
After Milner’s superb showing driving the Reds on in Slovenia, it would be very harsh to drop the vice-captain—the most likely candidate to make way for the skipper—to the bench.
It could also be argued that it would set a negative precedent with regards to a lack of reward for positive performance, which could impact the competitiveness for places in the squad.
But it is the switch most likely to materialise, and would see Milner make way for Emre Can to move back to his more advanced role, allowing the refreshed Henderson to return to holding midfield.
It would also mean the Reds start with this XI at Wembley:
Henderson’s impending reintroduction doesn’t have to come at Milner’s expense and there is a genuine case to argue that it shouldn’t.
The vice-captain’s display should see him retained at Wembley, so for Henderson to return Klopp should make a tough call dropping one of Can or Gini Wijnaldum.
Can’s greater importance and with Wijnaldum having started five of the last six games—as well as his continued disappearance in away matches—means it should be the Dutchman to make way.
It would be nice to see Henderson move directly into Wijnaldum’s box-to-box role after Can’s excellence as No. 6 in Maribor, but the captain will surely return to defensive midfield.
Klopp will refresh the back line by restoring Mignolet and Gomez, but he could inject further fresh legs in attempt keep the lethal Harry Kane under wraps.
Re-energised after a tough international break, Robertson could replace Moreno who has played successive full games—offering a fresh option to make full use of Wembley’s wide, open spaces.
This would see four switches made to the starting lineup, and this would be Liverpool’s XI:
Sunday’s clash is certainly a tough game for Klopp’s men, but it’s one the Reds can attack with full belief to claim what would be a fantastic and much-needed three Premier League points.
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