Jurgen Klopp has confirmed Liverpool’s squad for their final Europa League group stage match.
Liverpool travel to Belgium tonight to face Union SG, confirming their qualification to win the group. This means Liverpool will go straight into the last 16 of the knockout stages, avoiding Champions League elimination and subsequent play-offs. With that in mind and Manchester United scheduled to play on Sunday, Klopp discussed changes with the squad this evening.
Wataru Endo and Jarell Quansa were the only players from a completely changed squad to keep their places after the win over Crystal Palace, with Caoimhin Kelleher replacing another senior player, Ibrahima Konate. Konate, Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo opened the scoring. . Conor Bradley, Luke Chambers, Ben Doak and Kaide Gordon will all get a chance to impress. Players like Alisson Becker, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have never been to Belgium.
The team has some experience with players like Joe Gomez, Darwin Nunes and Dominik Szoboszlai, but it is still unclear how much they will play. Alexis McAllister is still injured and could miss Sunday’s big game. Liverpool will make a big difference here, but they will have experienced leaders alongside them. For me, Joe Gomez is one of those guys who could have a shot at center back. Ibrahima Konate might get some minutes, but the injury record can’t break him.
On the left, Luke Chambers is ahead of Calum Scanlon. I’d take James McConnell in the middle and Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones should start alongside him. Both require an effort. Jones, in particular, needs to get up to speed after being sidelined. I’m going for Cody Gakpo, but it could easily be Darwin Nunes (doesn’t start Sunday). If possible, I’d like to see Ben Doak and Cade Gordon start.
