Ibrahima Konate should return to Liverpool defence in Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford
Jurgen Klopp still in the hunt for four different trophies in his final season at Anfield
Last FA Cup match between Man Utd and Liverpool ended 3-2 to the Red Devils
Liverpool’s mission to win as many trophies as possible before Jurgen Klopp’s departure continues with an FA Cup quarter-final trip to face major rivals Manchester United on Sunday.
The Reds are in superb form despite having a raft of important injuries and will be the favourites to win at Old Trafford, but games between Liverpool and Man Utd are rarely that predictable.
With Rasmus Hojlund expected back in the starting lineup for Man Utd, Liverpool fans will be chuffed with Ibrahima Konate reaching full fitness again after the Frenchman picked up an issue in the first leg against Sparta Prague.
Here’s the Liverpool lineup Klopp may choose against Man Utd in the FA Cup.
Man Utd vs Liverpool: Preview, predictions and lineups
Liverpool predicted lineup vs Man Utd (4-3-3)
GK: Caoimhin Kelleher – The Irishman has been seriously impressive since Alisson’s injury, to the extent that many Liverpool fans aren’t remotely concerned about going into big games like this one with him in goal.
RB: Conor Bradley – Similarly, Bradley has stepped up superbly in the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold and will get a lot of joy down the right given Man Utd don’t have a single fit left-back in the squad.
CB: Ibrahima Konate – Having missed out against Man City and Sparta Prague, Konate should be fit enough to start here and, while Jarrell Quansah has been impressive, Klopp will surely go with the experience of Konate.
CB: Virgil van Dijk – Got a sizeable rest on Thursday and will be raring to go. Van Dijk has scored against Man Utd in the past and often performs in these big clashes.
LB: Joe Gomez – Many fans thought the elusive first-ever professional goal for Gomez would come at Anfield in the Europa League. He is expected to start over Andy Robertson here, so imagine if the goal finally came at Old Trafford.
CM: Alexis Mac Allister – The Argentine has slowly improved over the season and is playing in a more natural number eight with Wataru Endo sitting further back. He will be a key player at Old Trafford.
CM: Wataru Endo – Admitted in an interview with the Premier League this week he ‘never’ thought he would play for a team like Liverpool. Endo is doing more than just playing, becoming a key part of Klopp’s best starting XI.
CM: Dominik Szoboszlai – The Hungarian has more goals and assists than any other Liverpool midfielder this season (7G/5A) and is getting back to his best after an injury layoff that, by his own admission, probably should have been longer.
RW: Mohamed Salah – The Egyptian has been slowly getting back to full fitness but surprisingly played all 90 minutes on Thursday. Whether that is a good sign or a mistake remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt Man Utd have to take him seriously.
ST: Darwin Nunez – The agent of chaos did the usual on Thursday of scoring a goal and missing a chance most small children would put away. It isn’t as simple as ‘which Darwin Nunez will we get against Man Utd’; he can bring the good and the bad all in a single match.
LW: Luis Diaz – Has 11 goals and five assists in all competitions this season which is a very healthy return, but the best thing he has done is avoid major injuries unlike the majority of the Liverpool squad.
