How Liverpool could line up against Union SG
Liverpool could be without as many as six players for Thursday’s trip to Belgian club Union SG in the Europa League group stage, even as Alexis Mac Allister face a race against time to recover for a possible reunion with his brother Kevin Mac Allister of Union SG, as he is nursing a knee problem sustained against Sheffield United last week.
Considering that Liverpool have already qualified for the last 16 as Group E winners, manager Jurgen Klopp may ponder rotating his side on Thursday, but the potential absence of Mac Allister could see Wataru Endo retain his place in the deep-lying midfield role.
Curtis Jones will be hoping to force his way into the first XI at the expense of either Dominik Szoboszlai or Ryan Gravenberch, the latter of whom scored his first Liverpool goal in a 2-0 home win over Union SG in September.
Harvey Elliott, who scored a stoppage-time winner in Liverpool’s 2-1 success at Crystal Palace last weekend, is another option to start in midfield, but the 20-year-old could take the place of Mohamed Salah on the right side of attack if Klopp decides to rest the Egyptian.
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Attacking duo Cody Gakpo and 18-year-old Ben Doak could also be given run-outs from the start if Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, who both started against Crystal Palace, are given a rest.
Caoimhin Kelleher could be recalled between the sticks at the expense of first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who recently recovered from a hamstring injury, while Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez are in contention to return in defence and could take the places of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk.
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Joel Matip (knee), Diogo Jota (muscle), Andrew Robertson (shoulder), Thiago Alcantara (hip) and Stefan Bajcetic (calf) all remain sidelined as they continue to recover from long-term injuries.
Liverpool possible starting lineup: Kelleher; Gomez, Konate, Quansah, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Endo, Jones; Elliott, Nunez, Diaz