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| Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp applauds the fans after the Premier League match between Manchester City and Liverpool FC at Etihad Stadium on November 25, 2023 in Manchester, England. |
Liverpool have another chance of securing their place in the Europa League round of 16 on Thursday night when LASK visit Anfield.
For that to happen, Liverpool must better Toulouse's Matchday 5 result. The Reds play host to bottom-dwellers LASK, while the French side host Union Saint-Gilloise.
Jurgen Klopp's men are still in a very strong position to avoid the extra two games that come with finishing second in the group and entering the knockout round playoff. They're two points ahead of Toulouse and four points from their remaining fixtures will confirm their status as group winners.
Klopp will once again rotate heavily for LASK's visit, and here's the starting XI he could pick.
GK: Caoimhin Kelleher - The Irish goalkeeper was always likely to start this fixture, and Alisson's injury has surely confirmed his place in the team.
RB: Joe Gomez - Etihad hero Trent Alexander-Arnold will be wrapped up in cotton wool on Thursday and Gomez should get the nod.
CB: Ibrahima Konate - Konate was fit enough to make Saturday's matchday squad, but he didn't feature. Thus, the man-mountain should get a run out against LASK.
CB: Jarell Quansah - The lion's share of Quansah's minutes have arrived in this competition, and he'll likely get another start on Thursday.
LB: Kostas Tsimikas - With Gomez starting at right-back, Tsimikas may be the only player to retain his place in the side from Saturday's draw. Andy Robertson remains out of action.
CM: Wataru Endo - The Stuttgart stalwart is yet to impress on Merseyside, but he'll get another chance to showcase his stuff in midweek. Alexis Mac Allister remains Klopp's preferred option for the number six role.
CM: Ryan Gravenberch - The former Ajax starlet had come into his own before the break, but a minor knock meant he didn't start on Saturday. He will be aiming to dominate the Austrians in this one.
CM: Harvey Elliott - A player whose performances warrant more minutes, Elliott has often been excellent in short bursts this season.
RW: Ben Doak - Doak's start in Toulouse didn't exactly go to plan, but he should fare better on home soil against a mediocre opponent.
ST: Cody Gakpo - Klopp will ring the changes in attack and utilise those who merely earned minutes off the bench at the Etihad.
LW: Luis Diaz - Diogo Jota was favoured over Diaz on Saturday, but the Colombian will rotate back into the side on Thursday and will be hoping to impress ahead of the weekend's game against Fulham.