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| Liverpool player Harvey Elliott looks on as manager Jurgen Klopp gives out instructions during the warm up during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 Quarter-Final first leg match between Liverpool FC and Atalanta at Anfield on April 11, 2024 in Liverpool, England. |
Jurgen Klopp could make drastic changes against Crystal Palace after Liverpool's shambolic Europa League defeat to Atalanta on Thursday night. The Reds were thrashed 3-0 by the Italians and desperately need to bounce back to keep their Premier League title dreams alive at Anfield today (2pm).
Liverpool have three players who owe Klopp vs Palace after 'losing the plot'
Goalkeeper: Kelleher
Alisson is back in full training but wasn't in the match-day squad on Thursday night. While not impossible that he starts here, it is considered likelier the Brazilian's return will come in Bergamo next midweek instead.
Kelleher has been an able deputy but has struggled for clean sheets. He has just two in 10 league games this season and neither came at Anfield. The Irishman could do with a shut-out here in what could be his final appearance of the season.
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Defence: Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson
Worryingly, Liverpool's starting back-line against Atalanta was a strong one with Joe Gomez at right-back, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate the centre-backs and Kostas Tsimikas at left-back.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was an unused substitute against the Serie A side but Klopp admitted post-match he wasn't fit to feature. That means at best the right-back will get a 20 to 30 minute cameo from the bench against Palace.
Conor Bradley will return to the team with Andy Robertson coming in at left-back over Tsimikas for attacking impetus. Jarell Quansah could displace Konate after playing well away at Manchester United last weekend outside of an eye-catching error.
Midfield: Endo, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai
Curtis Jones was hooked at half-time in the Europa League and is unlikely to keep his starting spot here. He could be the fourth casualty of the Atalanta defeat to make way for
Wataru Endo will operate as the No. 6 with Alexis Mac Allister, excellent recently, in front of him on the left. On the right, Szoboszlai will be asked to provide some goalscoring that from the middle.
Attack: Salah, Nunez, Diaz
Harvey Elliott was another withdrawn after just 45 minutes last time out after struggling. He could be the fifth player to drop out, making way for Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian has actually struggled of late but is still so capable of being the match-winner.
Liverpool's top Premier League scorer on 17, Salah is in need of a morale-boosting afternoon and helped himself to a goal and an assist against the same opponents at Selhurst Park in December.
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Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz should both start for Liverpool vs Crystal Palace (Image: GETTY)
On the left, Luis Diaz should return. Cody Gakpo was arguably Liverpool's best player against Atalanta but could make way, with chance magnet Darwin Nunez leading the line. The Uruguayan needs to be far more clinical than he has been of late though if he is selected to start, especially with Diogo Jota now back.
Liverpool predicted XI vs Crystal Palace in full: Kelleher; Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
Changes from the Atalanta loss
Gomez out, Bradley in
Konate out, Quansah in
Tsimikas out, Robertson in
Jones out, Szoboszlai in
Elliott out, Salah in
Gakpo out, Diaz in