Diaz only back for small parts of training - won’t train today with the team. Just his first steps, and next week full training, see what the intensity does - final stages of him being back.
Darwin - got a cut against RM on foot, healed well enough for full training, in contention.
Naby confirmed as out - muscle injury from international break.
Thiago - in a good way, not part of team training yet. Next week hopefully in parts of team training.
I’m very interested who will be our 3rd midfielder here or we potentially switch to a double-pivot structure, which we did twice against City lately, if I remember well.
I think it will be Fabinho, Hendo and then we have nothing else apart from one of: Elliott, Milner or Jones. Milner has his weaknesses and the problem with the other two younger ones is that they were away on international duty. Elliott would mean playing him RCM and Hendo LCM.
If we go double-pivot, it would be Hendo and Fab at the base and then one of Gakpo/Bobby in front as the #10. Gakpo had a bit of a weird role in Madrid, he was in moments a #10 and in moments a RCM. I’d like more clarity here and him not playing deeper than #10/false #9.
Alisson
TAA Konate VVD Robbo
Hendo Fabinho
Salah Bobby Darwin
Cody
It’s a very flexible formation — if both Bobby and Cody come back to receive/help the midfield, Mo and Darwin can push forward and inside. At other times it will look like a 4-4-2.
Might not have much steel in the midfield, but I say just go for it.
Diogo to come on at some point, probably for Nunez.
Liverpool P 7 W 5 L 2 Pts 15
Man City P 8 W 4 D 1 L 3 Pts 13
Arsenal P 7 W 4 D 1 L 3 Pts 13
Man Utd P 8 W D 1 L 3 Pts 13
Newcastle P 7 W 1 D 3 L 3 Pts 6
Tottenham P 7 W 1 D 0 L 6 Pts 3
vs
Our record for Saturday early kickoffs (especially away)