The third game in the space of a week for Liverpool is against Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday as the early kick off.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been very open about his frustrations regarding the tight schedule and the changes that he was forced to make due to resting players in mid-week did not pay off as he saw his side get beat 2-0 at home and not register a single shot on target.
So, the game against Brighton will be a chance to put that right and there may be something more than just the game itself to look forward to.
Adam Lallana could line-up or come on from the bench to play against Liverpool for the first time since he left the club, he would likely be cert for the starting 11 if it were not for a groin issue.
Jurgen Klopp said in his press conference: “We still miss him, but it’s not easy to because everyone is still in contact with him. Not this week so much!
“A friend for life for all of us. Don’t know if he can play, he hasn’t told anyone. I know the friendship is aside.”
Adam Lallana was adored by his manager and teammates even when things were tough for him during injuries but fans knew he always gave his all for the club and that is why everyone was glad he was given a contract extension at the back end of last season so he could lift the Premier League title.
Captain and his best mate Jordan Henderson will be back for Jurgen Klopp to pick from the start.
It’ll be a great relief for the manager as injuries, certainly in the midfield have been mounting up with Naby Keita being the latest to be ruled out.
There have been no reports that Thiago is expected back but Klopp was not definitive in his answering at the press conference.
He said: “All the other players they are still in recovery. Only a few days in between so we make late decisions. If you asked me my lineup, I couldn’t tell you. I have to wait for medical dept to tell me.”
A surprise or two could be in store but don’t hold your breath.
What will be a surprise is if Liverpool play like they did against Atalanta.
It was a flat performance with no spark at all and if there is no reaction from the team on the weekend alarm bells will be ringing especially with the top of the league being as tight as it is.
The defeat against Atalanta was Liverpool’s biggest home defeat at Anfield, even though it was only 2-0, so a reaction will be high on the agenda and it’s what Klopp’s men are best at.
Brighton will be a challenge as they play slick fluid football and they finally got a win that their football deserved against Aston Villa with Danny Welbeck scoring his first goal for the club.
The defence will be under pressure then with Trent Alexander-Arnold still missing.
It’ll be a risk to start Neco Williams as the youngster has came under scrutiny with some poor performances so the experienced James Milner may be drafted back into the right-back role.
If Klopp feels like he can trust Nathaniel Phillips Fabinho may start in midfield rather than centre back but as mentioned previously Klopp was vague with who is available.
A change back to the four upfront could be what we see with the front four who started against Manchester City now all available.
Potentially a front four against a back three will be something to look out for and Graham Potter’s team are not usually the ones who like to sit back.
As Klopp would say they play proper football and hopefully we should have a proper football match for our Saturday lunchtime viewing.
Written by Elliot Thompson
