Liverpool travel to Leeds on Monday night for their first win in six games in all competitions.

Jurgen Klopp made plenty of changes to his squad in the three ruled out games in the first nine days of April, but with an eight-day gap between that game and the 2-2 draw with Arsenal, we can expect see something similar. the manager’s favored XI.

The Reds are hoping to avenge Leeds’ last-minute winner in October which saw Liverpool suffer their first home league defeat since April 2017 in front of the fans. With players returning from injuries and a mix of systems being tried over the last few weeks, there are plenty of options for the boss to choose from.

This is how Liverpool could behave.

Team news

What Klopp revealed during his press conference:

Thiago is a “starter candidate” after his substitute appearance against Arsenal

Luis Diaz is “100% ready in training” and will be part of the squad

Alisson and Ibrahima Konate have not trained for two days, but will hopefully both train on Friday

Liverpool XI vs. Leeds

The manager hopes to welcome Diaz back into the Leeds squad, but some involvement is likely to come from the bench.

Klopp was most confident in a possible start for Thiago, who returned from injury last weekend, and with that in mind, here’s what Klopp could do:

Darwin Nunez joins Cody Gakpo and Mo Salah in the top three after recovering from an illness

Thiago will leave for the first time since the beginning of February as a replacement for Curtis Jones

Back four and goalkeeper remain unchanged from the squad against Arsenal

Here’s how Liverpool would line up:

Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dik, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo

We have, of course, seen some fluidity in Klopp’s lineup selection this season, including many examples of 4-2-3-1 in recent weeks. Having all six attacking options available for the first time, the manager could tempt him into something like Elland Road.

With Konate unable to fully prepare with the squad this week,

Joe Gomez could join the squad at centre-back having recently played 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge.

Roberto Firmino could also be in Klopp’s plans after a decisive late equalizer gave Liverpool a point against Arsenal, partnering Gakpo.
Here’s what Liverpool could look like:

Firmino plays as first striker

Henderson alongside Fabinho in midfield

Gomez alongside Van Dijk as central defender

Here’s what it would look like:

Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dik, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho; Salah, Gakpo, Nunez; Firmino

Although Klopp is settling down at Elland Road, Liverpool will need to show more resources if he is to secure their first win in over a month.

While Monday’s last appearance against opponents ended in defeat for the Reds, Liverpool have won three and drawn one of their other four meetings since Leeds’ promotion to the top flight in 2020. Please get to work, Liverpool!

Also.. 

Liverpool now ready to battle Man United and Chelsea for Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo after withdrawing from Jude Bellingham race

Liverpool have ended their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham for the German club’s £100m asking price; Sky Germany says the club will target at least two new midfielders, including Declan Rice, Moises Caicedo, Nicolo Barella, Matheus Nunes and Ryan Gravenberch

Image: West Ham captain Declan Rice and Brighton’s Moises Caicedo are two midfield options Liverpool are considering signing in place of Jude Bellingham.

Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo are on the list of alternatives for Liverpool’s Jude Bellingham, according to Sky Germany, as the club look for reinforcements in midfield.

Liverpool have ended their hunt for Borussia Dortmund’s teenage midfielder for the German club’s £100m asking price.

Although long-time admirers of Bellingham, Liverpool believe such a large outlay for a single player is not the right strategy to correct the slump in form they have suffered this season.

Liverpool will be active this summer as they look to overhaul their squad and target at least two new midfielders. Sky Germania reports the Reds will join Rice and Caicedo to watch Inter Milan’s Nicolo Barella, Wolves’ Matheus Nunes and Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch

Jürgen Klopp said last week the club would improve its chances on the pitch through smart recruiting, but said now was not the time to focus on title plans.

“No matter what we do next year, it will never be enough from people’s point of view and from your [media’s] point of view,” he said.

“But yes, with smart recruitment we will definitely improve. That’s the plan. We can’t make 24 changes and say let’s go – not even 10 – but we just have to make changes, smart changes, and then go.

“We have other times where we think about what will happen next year, but now is not the right time.”

Vinny O’Connor explains why the club appear to have pulled out of the race to try and sign Jude Bellingham.

Sky Sports News senior reporter Melissa Reddy asks if Liverpool have been clinging to the idea of ​​signing Jude Bellingham for too long as their interest seems to have waned…

The main circumstances have not changed: Borussia Dortmund’s valuation is unchanged and Liverpool’s urgent need for a midfield operation as part of a wider rebuild remains. Why, then, did the Premier League club end their pursuit of Jude Bellingham – a player they valued above all else for nearly three years?

Anfield’s sounds suggest the decision is practical, which in isolation is a fair stance. The scale of the work at hand means it wouldn’t be wise for a company working within its means to spend over £100million on talent, no matter how phenomenal.

However, Liverpool have spent a number of transfer windows ignoring the apparent need to strengthen the midfield while waiting for “the right player”. It had long since become code for Bellingham, which Jurgen Klopp previously admitted meant the club didn’t sign simply because he was unavailable. The big game has been reserved for this summer. Meanwhile, other goals have been missed, a season has been stalled, a tougher transition awaits and Liverpool’s bargaining position has been badly weakened, with clubs being sold alive to see how much stronger they need to get.

ESPN reporter Julien Laurens believes Liverpool could have saved Darwin Nunez some money and should have used some of it to invest in a top midfielder like Jude Bellingham.

“If we are honest, there are only three clubs that can afford him. I think he will leave Dortmund this summer to go to one of the three. “Manchester City, he will replace Ilkay Gundogan and reunite with his best friend Erling Haaland, he will work with Guardiola and this City team would be even better with him.

“There is Real Madrid, we don’t know what will happen at the end of this season with Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. They have a younger midfield for the next 10 years with Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde. Bellingham could be the one another addition.

“The last club is PSG who think they have money to spend because they will like financial fair play and they also need to get stronger in midfield. “I don’t know where Bellingham would go. Manchester United may be in the running, but they need money for other positions, like a striker. You can’t spend £120m on Bellingham and then another £120m on a run now.” You have to make choices.”

Sky Germany journalist Jesco von Eichmann says he is shocked Liverpool are pulling out of the race for Jude Bellingham so early and believes the England midfielder will leave Borussia Dortmund this summer.

“For any big European club interested in Bellingham it’s just a matter of cost. “If the new owners of Man Utd can and want to afford it, it could be a prestigious object for them to say ‘hello, we’re the new ones and we’ve bought you Jude Bellingham’. Man Utd may be one candidates and has already kept an eye on him.

“The whole package is so expensive. It’s not just Dortmund’s money, which is around 150 million euros, it’s their salary. There are only a few clubs – Real Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United and PSG – who can afford it.”