Liverpool vs Forest lineup – Thiago in starting XI as Jurgen Klopp faces 2 big decisions 

Liverpool host Nottingham Forest this weekend hoping to repeat the form that led to an emphatic 6-1 victory at Elland Road.

On the trip to Leeds, Jurgen Klopp named an unchanged squad from the squad that drew 2-2 at home to Arsenal eight days earlier, along with Thiago and Luis Diaz following second-half injuries.

Liverpool will be hoping for a better performance than in their previous game against the visitors on Saturday, when a 55th-minute goal from ex-Red Taiwo Awoniyi was enough to give Forest all three points in October.

The manager has experimented with Liverpool’s form in recent games, with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s position becoming a key talking point and Klopp providing an element of flexibility from his side. This is how Liverpool could line up.

Team News

Manager Klopp delivered some ‘unfortunate’ injury news during his press conference:

Roberto Firmino has suffered a muscle injury and the next three games are ‘impossible’ for the Brazilian.

Both Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho trained ‘extraordinarily’ despite lack of recent metrics

Liverpool XI v Nottingham Forest

Thiago came off the bench after recovering from a hip flexor injury against Arsenal and Leeds and could be in contention for a Premier League start since early February.

That may mean ousting Curtis Jones in the middle of the park, who has had three consecutive starts during an injury-plagued campaign.

Here’s what it could look like this weekend:

Thiago replaces Jones in midfield

Diogo Jota loses place to Darwin Nunez despite Leeds support

The defender and goalkeeper remain unchanged since Monday night

Here’s how Liverpool would line up:

Alison; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo

Firmino’s injury means we’re less likely to see the 4-2-3-1 that Klopp has used at various times this season. Jota ended a 372-day wait for a Liverpool goal with a brace against Leeds and the manager could be looking to continue that momentum against Forest.

A fixture in the squad until recent weeks, Elliot has managed to make his comeback, with the manager noting the 20-year-old has been training “exceptionally” in the interim.

There are many options, meaning an alternate starting elf might look like this:

Jota holds on for Leeds meaning Nunez misses

Elliott returns to the side in place of Jones

Fabinho stays out to avoid a possible suspension

Andy Robertson has rested after a busy spell for club and country

Here’s what it would look like:

Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dik, Tsimikas; Henderson, Elliott, Thiago; Salah, Jota, Gakpo

There is no shortage of options for the coach as he looks to secure consecutive wins for the Reds.

The prospect of Champions League football looks out of reach for Liverpool next season, but there are still European places and momentum to play over the next eight games.

Also.. 

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says Trent Alexander-Arnold’s new position isn’t “written in stone”

Having played Trent Alexander-Arnold in a more central position, Jurgen Klopp said that while he “fits” at his right-back, nothing is “set in stone”.

In the past two games, Alexander-Arnold has found himself sliding more often than staying on the touchline.

It’s not unusual for the right-back to occupy more central positions, having played as a midfielder in the youth academy, but this new system change is a definite change when Liverpool are in possession.

Klopp insisted the 24-year-old’s position is not “set in stone”, but he admitted he has “the potential to play there”.

The boss explained how “this somewhat advanced role at the moment suits him very well”.

Statistics support Klopp’s claim like

Alexander-Arnold has made more successful passes (124) against Leeds than in any other game of his career, and has also had the second most touches by a Premier League player in a game this season (153).

Although the scouser played “really well”, Klopp said it was still “a challenge for everyone else to cover the spaces”.

As mentioned above, the move to the Alexander-Arnold infield isn’t entirely unheard of, and Klopp said he only has “a week” to work on the adjustment. He added that the role is “a bit different, but not massively different from others where Trent hasn’t always been a right-back.

“He’s a smart player, but it’s about how we organize it around him in the moments when we lose the ball, in different formations,” the coach continued.

“If Trent shows up there tomorrow, we’ll see. It’s not the solution to all the problems in football this year, but he has the potential to play there, that’s clear.

“It’s very good, we’ll see where it goes.”

Alexander-Arnold’s teammate Fabinho was also delighted with the new role at full-back, which saw the two sit side by side ahead of Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson. “Trent is someone who is really good on the ball, with his passing quality and finding players at the back. We can really use him,” Fabinho told the club’s official website.

“Obviously in this position he will have less time to think, but I think he is a bit used to being in this position.”