Jürgen Klopp has named a significantly altered team for Liverpool’s final Europa League group match against Union SG in Belgium this evening
The roster for Liverpool’s final Europa League group match has been announced by Jürgen Klopp. The Reds have traveled to Belgium to face Union SG tonight, confirming their status as group winners.
This means that Liverpool will skip the extra play-off round against the Champions League dropouts and instead advance straight to the last 16 of the competition. In light of this, and with Manchester United scheduled to arrive on Sunday, Klopp has unavoidably made changes for his team this evening.
Only Wataru End and Jarell Quansah remain in the team after the victory over Crystal Palace; Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones, Cody Gakpo, and Ibrahima Konaté are among the other senior options who will start.
Goalkeeper Caoimhn Kelleher is back, and Conor Bradley, Luke Chambers, Ben Doak, and Kaide Gordon get a chance to shine.
Alisson Becker, Mohamed Salah, and Virgil van Dijk, among others, have not even visited Belgium. The likes of Joe Gomez, Darwin Nez, and Dominik Szoboszlai give the team some experience, but it’s unclear how much time they will play. Alexis Mac Allister likely won’t play in the big game on Sunday because of his ongoing injury.
Three of our Liverpool.com writers discussed their picks ahead of tonight’s game. Compare their selections to Jurgen Klopp’s team in the table below.
Matt Addison – Kaide Gordon will return Liverpool will make a lot of changes in this situation, but there will be some experienced heads there. If Joe Gomez gets a chance to play center back, one of them is one of them. Despite the fact that Ibrahima Konaté has a history of injuries, he simply cannot be risked. Luke Chambers is ahead of Calum Scanlon in the pecking order at left back.
James McConnell will play in the midfield for me, and Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones must start alongside him. Both require a response; Jones in particular needs to pick up where he left off following his absence. I’m going to attack with Cody Gakpo, but Darwin Nez could easily win (basically, whoever doesn’t start on Sunday). If possible, I’d like to see Ben Doak and Kaide Gordon start.
My initial XI: Kelleher; Chambers, Quansah, Bradley, and Gomez; Jones, Elliott, and McConnell; Gordon, Gakpo, and Doak The anticipated scoreline: 1-1 draw.
Pay attention to: To shine are Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott.
James Martin: There is simply no need to risk anyone. There is no point performing additional rotations in goal. Caoimhn Kelleher can reclaim his place after Crystal Palace, where he was defeated by Alisson, who is back. However, he will be confronted with an unfamiliar defense.
Conor Bradley’s right-back performance here is an excellent opportunity; He has performed admirably when given the chance, most notably during his loan spell with Bolton last season. Jarell Quansah might have to play next to him because there aren’t many other options.
Luke Chambers, primarily a left back with some experience in the middle, could play with him. As a result, Klopp can select Calum Scanlon as the left back.
Klopp is bringing some of his older options into the midfield, but it just doesn’t make sense to put them in danger. Because the outcome is so irrelevant, I would pick James McConnell and possibly start Tom Hill. Harvey Elliott may serve as captain if he does not play his way into the team for the weekend.
It will be great to see Kaide Gordon once more during the attack. Lewis Koumas, a college prospect, can pass through the middle, and Ben Doak can patrol the opposite flank (one of them will have to be on their less favorably favored side).
My initial XI: Kelleher; Scanlon, Bradley, Quansah, and Chambers; McConnell, Hill, and Elliott; Gordon, Koumas, and Doak’s anticipated score: 2-2 draw.
Pay attention to: Ben Doak to stand out from his peers in his age group.
James Findlater will start in place of Captain Curtis Jones. The traveling team to Belgium always had a few familiar faces, but we shouldn’t expect much from them here, if anything. The only question for Klopp is whether he makes all-encompassing changes or selects one or two of those senior options.
With Kelleher back in the team, picking the goalkeeper is at least simple. It’s just a matter of who else will be in the back four; Bradley, Quansah, and Chambers should all be given the nod. Chambers can start alongside Quansah at center back, and Calum Scanlon will play left back.
The midfield may be the most intriguing position because it may provide a significant clue prior to the United match. It doesn’t matter who goes with McConnell; he should get the chance.
Since Elliott was on duty at the press conference, I have a sneaking suspicion that Klopp will try to gain some experience in the middle, so Curtis Jones might be named captain. Doak and Gordon can start in the front three either side of Cody Gakpo, who gets 45 minutes to get back into shape.
My initial XI: Kelleher; Scanlon, Bradley, Quansah, and Chambers; Jones, Elliott, and McConnell; Gordon, Gakpo, and Doak The anticipated scoreline: 1-1 draw.
Pay attention to: Conor Bradley will excel in the flipped role.
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