Liverpool predicted lineup: Salah back in, Konate keeps his place

klopp arsenal liverpool — Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images

Liverpool take on Villarreal in the Champions League tonight and Jurgen Klopp faces some difficult decisions with his starting lineup in Spain…

The Reds beat Villarreal 2-0 in the first leg at Anfield last week as Sadio Mane added to a Pervis Estupinan own goal.

Liverpool have one foot in the Champions League final but have to be careful of slipping up at El Madrigal.

Villarreal have already dumped Juventus and Bayern Munich out of this season’s Champions League. They are more than capable of turning this tie around.

Jurgen Klopp’s men are a winning machine though and will be favourites to finish off the job tonight.

Klopp faces some tough calls after rotating his squad against Newcastle United on Saturday, so here is our predicted Liverpool lineup against Villarreal.

Barring any late illness or injury, Alisson will of course be Liverpool’s starting goalkeeper in Spain tonight.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was given a rest against Newcastle this weekend so should be primed to start at right back.

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There may be a temptation to start Kostas Tsimikas at left back but Andrew Robertson is in such good form that he may start again.

Virgil van Dijk will be one of the starting centre backs. Next to him should be either Joel Matip or Ibrahima Konate.

£36million summer signing Konate continues to impress when given a chance and we’re backing him to get the nod ahead of Matip tonight.

Ibrahima Konate werner liverpool chelsea — Photo by Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images

Fabinho will almost certainly start in holding midfield with Thiago and Jordan Henderson operating ahead of him.

That may be harsh on Saturday’s match-winner Naby Keita, but this is Klopp’s most trusted midfield trio.

Mohamed Salah was given a rest at Newcastle and will likely come back in tonight at the expense of Diogo Jota.

That means Salah on the right with Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane making up the rest of Liverpool’s attack.

The likes of Caoimhin Kelleher, Matip, Tsimikas, Joe Gomez, Keita and Jota would then be on the bench as Liverpool chase a third Champions League final under Klopp.

Liverpool predicted lineup: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Diaz, Mane, Salah.