Stephen Warnock has claimed that Jurgen Klopp won’t start Darwin Nunez ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Arsenal on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League, as he told DAZN.
The former left-back thinks Diogo Jota will come into Liverpool’s starting XI for the 23-year-old – from their last league game – because of his record against Arsenal, especially at the Emirates Stadium.
Overall, Jota has eight goals in 11 matches against the Gunners, starting from his days in Wolves colours, to his performances last season.
Most of that damage has been done in north London, with Jota scoring five goals in the capital, including a brace last season in the League Cup.
In midweek, Klopp changed tact and played four attackers against Rangers in the Champions League, with Nunez in the starting XI, alongside Jota, but Warnock thinks, whilst the formation will stay the same, the personnel won’t.
“I think he will probably stick with it (playing four attackers v Arsenal) if I am totally honest,” said Warnock “It’s a tough one to call.
“I think there will be changes in the front line. I don’t think Nunez will play. I think he will go with Jota, because of his record at the Emirates, it’s very, very good. He has caused them problems for the last few years.
“The intensity in which Jota presses. I think he will play the forward line. I think Firmino will play behind him and then he will drop in. What you have to remember with Firmino, since he’s been at Liverpool, he has been one of the best at winning the ball back.
“So, I do think there will be changes. When you look at that forward line and the intensity in which they can press and also the speed at which they can get in behind their backline. They (Arsenal) will try to dominate the game and get up the pitch, it will suit Liverpool.”
CHANGE OF DIRECTION FOR ARSENAL AND LIVERPOOL?
It’s harder dethroning Manchester City from their dominant top spot in English football than it is replacing Liverpool as the Premier League’s second-best team.
For large parts of Klopp’s reign at Anfield, that’s what the Merseyside giants have been, but is their time now coming to an end?
Arsenal are the ones showing the most promise, after Pep Guardiola’s free-scoring side, and a win against the Reds on Sunday will certainly increase that talk.
Liverpool go into the game sitting tenth in the league, and despite thrashing Bournemouth 9-0 in August, the newly-promoted side are now ahead of the current FA Cup and League Cup holders in the table.
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