A look at how Liverpool may line-up when they host Sparta Prague in the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday
With a 5-1 advantage from the first leg, Jurgen Klopp is expected to make some considerable changes when Liverpool host Sparta Prague in the Europa League on Thursday.
The damage for the Czech has been done and it would surely be a miracle for the visitors if they are to even come close to overturning that first-leg deficit at the Letna Stadion. Stranger things have happened, perhaps. Just not that often.
With Manchester United to come in the FA Cup quarter-finals later that week, Klopp will be determined to ensure as many of his big guns are rested for that one at Anfield on Thursday night, particularly given the list of absentees at present.
Klopp can ill-afford to be without any more of his walking wounded so risking too many of them in what is an effective dead-rubber is a risky balancing act he must get right. In many ways, that is the major challenge confronting the manager with a place in the quarter-finals of the Europa League virtually assured.
Third-choice goalkeeper Adrian may be given his first outing of the campaign in place of Caoimhin Kelleher, while Jarell Quansah is expected to start at centre-back. Joe Gomez may be asked to go in the centre alongside him with Conor Bradley and Kostas Tsimikas completing the back five.
In midfield, Carabao Cup final hero James McConnell can patrol the engine room as the defensive midfielder with Bobby Clark and Harvey Elliott further forward. The latter has been played to breaking point lately but it’s needs-must and he can be withdrawn after 45 minutes for Dominik Szoboszlai, who could use the minutes himself.
Up top, perhaps the major consideration for Klopp to grapple with is what to do with Mohamed Salah. Liverpool’s top scorer has only started one game this calendar year, way back on January 1 and could use the minutes given the amount of time he’s been sidelined for with that muscle issue.
But the fear of aggravating that issue further surely must be real for the Reds, who have had a request granted by Egypt to leave him out of international duty later this month. It’s a big issue for Klopp to mull over as he aims to get his leading marksman back up to speed as quickly as possible.
Elsewhere, it could be a good opportunity to build up some momentum for Cody Gakpo through the middle, although Jayden Danns should also be part of the thinking after sitting out recent days with a concussion. The young striker has two senior goals to his name and will be desperate for the chance to add more to that tally. Ditto for Lewis Koumas, who scored his maiden goal in senior football against Southampton in the FA Cup fifth round.
Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz are almost certain to sit this one out, you suspect, given what it is to come later that week. Both players have been needed in recent weeks, so this is an ideal chance to rest some wearying limbs, particularly after Sunday’s exertions against Manchester City.
