As he prepares to select his team against Leicester City, Jurgen Klopp is faced with a dilemma with Darwin Nunez
Jurgen Klopp, head coach of Liverpool, believes Darwin Nunez will start scoring goals next season, but admits the £85 million striker will need time to adjust, as the Uruguayan is expected to start on the bench against Leicester City. With Cody Gakpo impressing recently and Nunez desperate to start adding to his goal tally, the German manager may be the unlucky loser in the battle for a starting spot.
Since his big-money move from Benfica, the 23-year-old has found the net 15 times in all competitions for the Reds this season, but he has struggled to secure a regular place in the Liverpool side. Klopp promised there will be “a lot more” from the forward as he helps him adjust to life on Merseyside.
“There’s clearly a lot more. He requires some time to settle. The most difficult thing for a striker is joining a team that isn’t clicking,” Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com before adding later. “Fifteen goals is absolutely fine, [and] there are still three games left, so he could increase that number as well, but we discussed it – he needs time to adapt.”
The question is whether Nunez will be given a chance against Leicester. With an eight-day gap between their last game and the trip to Leicester, Klopp has a clean slate to work with and is unlikely to make many changes. Express Sport looks at who might start on Monday night at the King Power Stadium.
In Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Brentford, the Brazilian reached a century of clean sheets in his Liverpool career. Despite allowing 10 goals in five games, he has recorded back-to-back shutouts against Brentford and Fulham, indicating that his form is improving.
The fact that the former Roma goalkeeper has repeatedly kept Klopp from losing it this season won’t need to be mentioned to Klopp, and he will continue to start in front of Caoimhin Kelleher.
Defenders: Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Ibrahima Konate
For Klopp and Liverpool, who have now won six straight games to put themselves in contention for a late charge at the top four, Alexander-Arnold’s new role as a hybrid right-back and midfielder has been revolutionary. Robertson has rediscovered his form after losing his spot to Kostas Tsitsipas during the Reds’ dismal run of form, and his inventiveness will once again be required.
Despite conceding more goals than usual lately, Klopp is satisfied with Liverpool’s current back four and has decided to keep Joel Matip and Joe Gomez on the bench.
Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, and Curtis Jones are all midfielders.
The only adjustment from the 1-0 victory over Brentford would be the substitution of Henderson for Diogo Jota in midfield, with Cody Gakpo moving into the front three to fill the No. 9 position.
Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic have already been ruled out for the remainder of the season by Klopp, and Naby Keita is unable to make a comeback for the Leicester match. The German is aware that, even with Henderson’s experience adding some steel to their midfield numbers, playing a 4-2-1-3 away from home may be too risky.
After a stellar stretch of play for the Reds, Jones will keep his spot in the lineup and make his seventh straight league start.
Attackers: Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, and Mohamed Salah.
Egyptian forward Salah needs one goal to reach the 20-goal plateau, and with Liverpool needing a victory at the King Power, Klopp will need his star player to be at the top of his game.
There won’t be any Roberto Firmino in the starting lineup against the Foxes, but Gakpo and the recovered Diaz are expected to line up alongside him in a stunning attacking triumvirate. When questioned about the Brazilian’s level of fitness, Klopp said that he is not yet ready to make a comeback.
“I saw Bobby in training yesterday and it looks like pretty much [he is] nearly there, but I don’t think he will be in for the weekend,” he told the media. “I would be surprised if I left this building and found him in the session. I’m assuming that after the Leicester game, we’ll start with him in team training.
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold; Konate; Van Dijk; Robertson; Henderson; Fabinho; Jones; Salah; Gakpo; Diaz; are all potential starters for Liverpool against Leicester (4-3-3) in that order.
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