Darwin Nunez, a striker for Liverpool, will make his first Premier League appearance of the year when the Reds take on Aston Villa at Anfield.
The Uruguayan international is one of three changes made by Jurgen Klopp in recognition of his valiant appearance off the bench in last weekend’s 2-1 victory over Newcastle United
Jota replaces Cody Gakpo, while Wataru Endo is delayed in making his Anfield debut as Curtis Jones joins Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai in the middle of the field.
Joe Gomez and Joel Matip will form a strange center pairing in front of Alisson Becker because Virgil van Dijk is out due to suspension and Ibrahima Konate is injured, while new acquisition Ryan Gravenberch was not included in the squad.
In the meantime, Emiliano Martinez, Aston Villa’s first-choice goalkeeper, returns to the starting lineup, demoting Robin Olsen to the bench.
Clement Lenglet and Nicolo Zaniolo are also included among the substitutes, but other than those two players, Unai Emery has stuck with the same 10 outfield players from last weekend’s victory against Burnley.
Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Matip, Robertson, Szoboszlai, Jones, Mac Allister, Salah, Nunez, and Diaz are all with Liverpool.
As an alternative, use Kelleher, Endo, Gakpo, Jota, Tsimikas, Bajcetic, Doak, and Quansah.
Aston Villa: Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Torres; Cash, Kamara, Luiz, Digne; McGinn, Diaby; Watkins
Subs: Olsen, Tielemans, Lenglet, Chambers, Zaniolo, Duran, Bailey, Dendoncker, Kellyman
