Our writers make their picks to start Sunday’s FA Cup clash at Manchester United as Liverpool consider a number of line-ups.
The last game for a fortnight offers Jurgen Klopp the perfect opportunity to sail off into the international break in great spirits.
And with his injury issues starting to slowly subside, another visit to Wembley would be the ideal way to head into a two-week international period that is, for a change, largely welcomed at Anfield.
It looks like Ibrahima Konate will lose out on his chance to feature here. Klopp said his withdrawal was precautionary against Sparta Prague last week but the France international has now missed three games as a result. It’s never really a precaution, is it?
Joe Gomez steps in for me at centre-back, having given it some consideration, with Jarell Quansah unfortunate to miss out on a start next to Virgil van Dijk. Conor Bradley and Andy Robertson make up the right and left-back positions, respectively.
Wataru Endo starts as the No.6 with Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister further forward in midfield. All three have had a good week or so and what happens in the engine room will be crucial today.
Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz complete my team. Those three will strike fear into United’s defenders, I am sure.
My team: Kelleher; Bradley, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Salah, Nunez, Diaz.
The battle between the bitter North West rivals at opposite ends of the East Lancs Road is never anything less than seismic. And with a place at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-finals at stake, there’s even more on it at Old Trafford this afternoon.
What, then, is Jurgen Klopp to do with the Liverpool line-up against Manchester United?
There is scope for some change, but the Reds are still nowhere near full strength. Certainly not at centre-back, where Ibrahima Konate shouldn’t be risked and Jarell Quansah can continue alongside the recalled Virgil van Dijk. Joe Gomez can edge ahead of Conor Bradley at right-back, with Andy Robertson the left-back. Caoimhin Kelleher continues in goal.
In midfield, Alexis Mac Allister can step back in, with Wataru Endo the number six and Dominik Szoboszlai given another start on the right of the triumvirate, with Harvey Elliott unlucky to miss out but the first expected substitution.
And up top, Mohamed Salah can go again on the right, with Darwin Nunez down the middle and Luis Diaz returning on the left flank after a well-earned rest in midweek.
My team (4-3-3): Kelleher; Gomez, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Salah, Nunez, Diaz.
Theo Squires – Wembley beckons but the cavalry aren’t here yet
Finally, Liverpool can see the light at the end of the tunnel. They have reached the March international break, having suffered just one defeat in 2024 and even won a trophy despite a crippling injury crisis. And now the cavalry are slowing arriving on the horizon.
But before the Reds can embrace a two-week break and a flurry of returning bodies, there is the small matter of an FA Cup quarter-final trip to Manchester United. Wembley beckons, and a number of players are going to be asked to go again.
In truth, there are few tough decisions for Jurgen Klopp to make here. The midfield is unchanged from Thursday’s win over Sparta Prague, while Luis Diaz comes back into the attack in place of Cody Gakpo.
Virgil van Dijk returns to captain the side too, though the rest of the back four is up for grabs. Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez, Jarell Quansah, and Andy Robertson are fighting it out for three places.
Experience ultimately wins out, with the young centre-back the unfortunate man to miss out as Gomez gets another rare shot in his favoured position ahead of his return to the England squad.
Now if you can all get through Sunday’s game and the international break without any further injuries, that would be marvellous. With Jurgen Klopp’s summer exit looming, there are trophies to be won.
My team (4-3-3): Kelleher; Bradley, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Endo, Mac Allister; Salah, Nunez, Diaz.
