Liverpool line-ups as Mohamed Salah rested and Naby Keita returns vs Palace

Blood Red: Joel Matip Returns | Team Selector: Crystal Palace vs Liverpool

SHARE

SHARE

TWEET

SHARE

EMAIL

Click to expand

UP NEXT

‘Naby Keita comes in as Wijnaldum gets a breather’

Ian Doyle: It’s another quick turnaround for Liverpool with a third game in less than seven days.

And having kept rotation to a minimum in midweek, Jurgen Klopp will surely look to make changes for the trip to Crystal Palace in today’s early Premier League kick-off.

There are no issues with the goalkeeper. Alisson Becker remains between the sticks.

But the availability of Joel Matip means the centre-back can be restored alongside Fabinho in place of Rhys Williams, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson at full-back once more.

One area definitely deserving of a shake-up is midfield.

This might be the game where Gini Wijnaldum takes a well-earned breather, dropping to the bench with Naby Keita coming in to join Curtis Jones and skipper Jordan Henderson.

Up top, another bit of tweaking with Mohamed Salah – who was an unused substitute at Selhurst Park last season – again missing out.

Instead, Takumi Minamino can start on the left, with Sadio Mane switching to the right and Roberto Firmino staying down the middle.

And with nine substitutes now allowed, I’ll be taking my boots just in case.

My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; Henderson, Jones, Keita; Mane, Firmino, Minamino.

‘Just one change as Liverpool keep up the pressure’

Connor Dunn: Liverpool are now outright top of the Premier League and it’s time to put the pressure on everyone else by moving a further three points clear in the first game of the weekend against Crystal Palace.

With that in mind, my back four remains almost unchanged from Tottenham – only Joel Matip comes in for the excellent Rhys Williams – simply in terms of having a senior centre-back in the heart of defence and the fact he is back in full training.

The front three is, of course, the front three as I want to go as strong as possible to get ahead in the game for at least the first hour before changes can be made.

My midfield is also staying the same, I’m wary of doing too much too soon with Curtis Jones but the way he’s been playing means he stays in the side to continue strutting his stuff but I’d think about introducing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Naby Keita into the game if needed later on.

My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Jones; Salah, Firmino, Mane

‘Selection headaches can wait a week’

David Lynch: Jurgen Klopp has received some significant fitness boosts of late but it feels unlikely that they will come into play at Selhurst Park.

Midfield duo Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita were both part of the squad to face Tottenham in midweek after returning from injury.

But, with a full week separating this clash with Palace and Liverpool’s next outing, Klopp could err on the side of caution by only using both from the bench.

Asking the same XI that beat Tottenham – with the fit-again Joel Matip restored in place of Rhys Williams – to go again one more time seems like a sensible option, postponing any selection headaches until after a well-deserved week’s break.

My team (4-3-3) Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Jones; Salah, Mane, Firmino.

‘Just two changes for Liverpool’

Sean Bradbury: At some stage during this hectic festive period, Andy Robertson and Gini Wijnaldum are going to need a rest.

But we have not quite reached that point.

This is a tricky task against stubborn opposition. With Sadio Mane struggling for form, Robertson will be a key threat down the left. And Wijnaldum’s recent performances have been imperious so he must continue in the middle.

The forwards will also need their minutes to be managed soon. Again, that can wait until after Christmas.

So there are only two changes for me in a strong line-up to take on Roy Hodgson’s charges.

With Joel Matip back in training, he comes in for Rhys Williams.

And in midfield, Naby Keita gets the nod ahead of Curtis Jones on this occasion.

My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Keita; Salah, Firmino, Mane.