Liverpool face Atalanta on Wednesday evening in their fourth Champions League group game, and we’re having a go at predicting their starting XI for that match.
It’s fair to say that Jurgen Klopp has a tough task when it comes to picking his team for the Champions League after the club’s recent injury crisis and Klopp’s complaints about fixture congestion.
Unsurprisingly, we’re expecting wholesale changes for this match.
Our predicted XI sees Liverpool make a massive six changes for this game.
Alisson remains in goal, but the back four has had a massive reshuffle.
We don’t expect Andy Robertson to be risked after he had a fitness scare with Scotland, so Kostas Tsimikas starts at left-back, while we think James Milner will move into midfield, so Neco Williams gets a start on the right.
Joel Matip keeps one of the centre-back spots, while Fabinho drops out after his recent fitness issues, so in comes Nat Phillips.
The midfield features three players who played against Leicester on Sunday, with Milner, Curtis Jones and Naby Keita starting in the middle.
Keita was forced off against Leicester with an injury, but that issue was thought to be minor.
The front three is also a new look trio with Mohamed Salah returning after recording a negative coronavirus test, while Divovk Origi and Takumi Minamino start alongside him.
This is anything but a must-win game for Liverpool, with the Reds picking up nine points in three Champions League games so far, their qualification is all but secured.
With Liverpool in such a comfortable position, we expect them to rotate in order to protect some of their star players after Klopp made it clear that he wasn’t happy with the fixture congestion.
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