Liverpool team vs Brentford predicted as vital duo return and Jürgen Klopp gives Man City hint

Liverpool team vs Brentford predicted as vital duo return and Jürgen Klopp gives Man City hint

Liverpool Echo Sports·2021-09-26 10:00

With Chelsea hosting Man City at lunchtime, getting three points against Brentford will be vital for Liverpool in the Premier League, with at least one of their title rivals having slipped up.But which team should Jürgen Klopp choose at the Brentford Community Stadium?Will Joël Matip and Virgil van Dijk return at centre-back? Will Jordan Henderson and Fabinho be in midfield? Who will replace the injured duo, Thiago Alcântara and Naby Keïta? And will Roberto Firmino come straight back into the side after injury?With Porto and Man City also come to come in the next week or so, there is plenty to think about for Liverpool's coaching team.Here, our Liverpool.com writers have their say on who should start the game.Matt Addison - Test the team who'll face Man CityI'm picking the team that I want to see against Man City next weekend for this one, with a few changes to be made midweek against Porto in the Champions League.Read MoreRelated ArticlesRead MoreRelated ArticlesWith that in mind, it's the usual back five (including Alisson) with Matip and Van Dijk at the heart of the defence, and Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konaté getting Tuesday night's game.Midfield is slightly harder without Thiago and Keïta, but I'm going with Curtis Jones and giving James Milner the Porto game.With Firmino just back from injury, Diogo Jota will have to go again here, though the Brazilian will definitely start on Tuesday if he doesn't here and can come off the bench with an hour gone.There has been a bit of talk that Kaide Gordon could be on the first-team bench having not played for the U23s last night, but I suspect his absence for Barry Lewtas was a case of managing his minutes after he played the full game on Tuesday, with the UEFA Youth League clash with Porto in mind next Tuesday afternoon.My starting XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Jones, Henderson; Salah, Jota, ManéEmmet Gates - A bit of rotation required I expect Klopp to rotate, with an eye to the Porto game next week.Trent Alexander-Arnold will obviously be a big plus to have back, and he will be straight into the starting XI. One of Joël Matip and Virgil van Dijk will start against Brentford, as I believe both will start against Porto.Konaté could play another game, as he continues his settling in period at the club.Jones will likely start due to the absence of Thiago and Keïta, alongside Henderson and Fabinho. It wouldn't surprise me if Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain perhaps even started.Read MoreRelated ArticlesRead MoreRelated ArticlesIn attack, Klopp has said that the Brentford game is probably too early for Roberto Firmino, so I'm going to go for Mohamed Salah, Jota and Sadio Mané.My starting XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Konaté, Robertson; Fabinho, Jones, Henderson; Salah, Jota, ManéBen Bocsak - Important partnership returnsWith Trent Alexander-Arnold, the back five writes itself. Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konaté both caught the eye in midweek. But Matip and Van Dijk have not put a foot wrong in the Premier League so far and it's time for the partnership to return after they were broken up against Crystal Palace. Midfield will be a slightly more tricky decision for Klopp; Henderson and Fabinho are guaranteed to start, then it's between James Milner or Curtis Jones as the third midfield spot. I've gone with Jones because of his creativity and ability to progress the ball into the opposition's final third. Brentford are a solid defensive unit, and Jones' silky moves might be needed to unlock Thomas Frank's side. In attack, Jota has been misfiring of late, and he has looked a little jaded so I've gone with Minamino to start the game. The last time he started a game in the Premier League in London for Liverpool, things went pretty well for Klopp's side against Crystal Palace.After his midweek brace, Minamino will be bursting with confidence and it's time he is given a chance. Meanwhile, a hungry Diogo Jota on the bench will give Klopp the ability to change things if the game is going awry. My starting XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Jones, Henderson; Salah, Minamino, ManéRead MoreRelated ArticlesRead MoreRelated Articles

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