Alexis Mac Allister And Jarell Quansah To Start; Darwin Nunez On The Bench: Liverpool’s Predicted XI To Face Arsenal

Manager Jurgen Klopp has some big selection decisions to make ahead of Liverpool’s FA Cup clash against Arsenal on Sunday evening.

The Reds play a Carabao Cup semi-final first leg just a few days after the game at the Emirates so some rotation may be needed for Klopp’s men to get through both matches.

For this weekend, Alisson is likely to stay in goal, with understudy Caoimhin Kelleher expected to be handed the gloves for the Fulham match on Wednesday.

There aren’t many changes Klopp can make in defence. Connor Bradley and Owen Beck are both available if the Liverpool boss wants to rest one of the two fullbacks but you’d think that Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez will start against the Gunners.

Ibrahima Konate may be left on the bench for this one ahead of the Carabao Cup so youngster Jarell Quansah will likely line up alongside captain Virgil van Dijk in the centre of defence.

With Wataru Endo away at the Asian Cup, it gives Alexis Mac Allister the chance to return to the eleven as the No.6. The Argentinian international has only recently made his comeback following a knee injury.

After Klopp ruled out Dominik Szoboszlai with a hamstring problem, it means Mac Allister is set to start alongside Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones in midfield.

Up front, Mo Salah is now with the Egypt squad ahead of the African Cup of Nations, so Harvey Elliott has been tipped to fill in during the Egyptian international’s absence.

After scoring against Newcastle, Cody Gakpo could be selected to lead the line, meaning Darwin Nunez will be benched. Diogo Jota will make up the rest of the forward line.

Liverpool’s Predicted XI To Play Arsenal

Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, van Dijk, Gomez, Jones, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Elliott, Gakpo, Jota

Watch a preview of Liverpool’s plans for the January transfer window on Shots!TV here

David Tully

David Tully

David has worked as a football reporter for the last fifteen years. Having started as an intern at Snack Media, he then went on to become a freelancer, working on various different sites. At the start of 2023, he took up his current role as content writer for National World's Football News Network.