A Liverpool journalist believes Klopp could give a Reds player his Premier League debut against Southampton.

According to Liverpool Echo journalist Theo Squires, Jurgen Klopp could give one Reds player a Premier League debut against Southampton on Sunday, depending on whether they’ll have anything to play for

Depending on the results of the teams around them between now and then, the Merseysiders could be assured of finishing fifth by the time the game at St Mary’s kicks off.

In the meantime, Newcastle and Manchester United both need just one point to secure Champions League qualification, while a loss for sixth-placed Brighton against Manchester City on Wednesday means they won’t be able to leapfrog Liverpool on the final day.

If both of those happen, which seems likely, Squires believes Klopp will field a much-changed Reds team on Sunday if they can finish no higher or lower than fifth.

Regarding the midfield’s composition and the possibility of an unfamiliar face making a rare appearance, the journalist wrote for the Liverpool Echo: “Arthur Melo could be handed his Premier League debut before returning to Juventus if Klopp is feeling sentimental.”

“Still limited to just 13 minutes of action for the Reds, coming back in September, Liverpool have paid for him for the year, so might as well use him properly at least once!”

Arthur’s loan spell on Merseyside has been ruined by injuries and general misfortune, with the 26-year-old appearing only once for the club in nearly nine months (Transfermarkt).

That came against Napoli in September, and he’s already confirmed that he’ll be returning to Juventus once the Reds’ season ends next weekend.

If nothing but pride is at stake on Sunday, it would be nice to see Klopp give opportunities to players who haven’t seen much action this season, as well as those who are leaving Anfield in the summer.

The manager hasn’t always taken full advantage of opportunities to make wholesale changes in games with nothing riding on them, sometimes fielding strong lineups even when Liverpool had already secured first place in the league.

Nonetheless, it’d be difficult to fault Arthur for one Premier League appearance for the Reds if there’s room in the starting XI for previously unseen players.