Our writers pick their team for Liverpool’s crucial match against Aston Villa at Anfield today
Ian Doyle – Same starting XI as Leicester
We’re almost there, people. We’re almost there.
This afternoon will be an emotional occasion as Anfield bids farewell to four players who have contributed to success under Jurgen Klopp in various ways.
Will any of them start against Aston Villa?
In fact, I wouldn’t change the starting lineup at all. Alisson Becker will start in goal, with Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right, Andy Robertson on the left, and Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate in the center.
Fabinho anchors the midfield, with skipper Jordan Henderson to his right and Curtis Jones to his left. Cody Gakpo is in the middle, Luis Diaz is on the left, and Mohamed Salah is on the right.
Sentiment can wait, says Theo Squires.
On Saturday, Liverpool will bid farewell to Roberto Firmino, James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at Anfield. With a top-four finish still on the table, there will be no room for sentimentality in the Reds camp against Aston Villa.
In attack, Diogo Jota can replace Luis Diaz, while Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo remain. Firmino’s involvement was always going to be limited because he had only recently returned to team training.
Oxlade-Chamberlain hasn’t made a matchday squad during Liverpool’s nine-game unbeaten streak, but with no new injuries reported, he can replace Arthur Melo on the bench for his Anfield farewell. Meanwhile, Keita was not seen training in midweek, so only time will tell if he is actually available to play.
Jota in for Keifer MacDonald to freshen up the attack
Jurgen Klopp will lead his team out at Anfield for the final time this season, hoping to cap off a turbulent season with a commanding victory.
With only two games left in the Premier League season, the Reds manager knows that, despite the Anfield farewells that await this afternoon, there is no room for sentiment as his team pursues a last-minute surge into the Champions League places.In doing so, he will name his first-choice defensive lineup, which will include Alisson Becker, the rejuvenated Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, and Andy Robertson.
In midfield, after Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, and Curtis Jones dominated at the King Power Stadium on Monday night as Liverpool romped to a 3-0 victory, I expect more of the same. If the Reds are successful in sweeping aside a tenacious Aston Villa XI on Merseyside, James Milner could be given a late Anfield cameo.
With Darwin Nunez still out with a toe injury, Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo are joined in attack by Diogo Jota, who replaces Luis Diaz on the left.
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