Liverpool team news as Jurgen Klopp rings the changes for Chelsea test

Klopp admits past successes have helped him keep Liverpool job

Jurgen Klopp is seemingly poised to make a number of alterations to his Liverpool side when they travel to Stamford Bridge to face managerless Chelsea on Tuesday evening. The Reds will be hoping to capitalise on the current situation in west London by claiming all three points on away soil, although it remains to be seen whether Graham Potter’s exit will breathe new life into the hosts under the guidance of interim boss Bruno Saltor.

Express Sport takes a look at the Liverpool side that could be tasked with securing an important victory against Chelsea this evening…

Goalkeeper – Alisson

Alisson Becker will start for Liverpool between the sticks tonight and will be looking to keep his 11th clean sheet of the Premier League campaign under the lights at Stamford Bridge. He endured a torrid time of things against Manchester City over the weekend as he shipped four goals but will have high hopes of an improved performance against Chelsea, who have struggled to take their chances in the final third all season long.

However, it will be far from easy for Alisson to prevent the likes of Kai Havertz and Joao Felix from finding the back of the net over the course of the 90 minutes, with the Brazilian stopper needing to be at the very top of his game to stand the greatest chance of success.

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Defence – Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas

An important change could be made at left-back for Liverpool against Chelsea if Andrew Robertson is rested in favour of Kostas Tsimikas, who has not started in the Premier League since early January but could be given a rare opportunity to shine this evening. The rest of Liverpool’s back four should remain the same as on the weekend against City, with Trent Alexander-Arnold poised to retain his usual spot on the opposite flank.

Ibrahima Konate will also be set to feature in central defence alongside Virgil van Dijk, who has come under fire as a result of his latest performances for both club and country in recent weeks but is unlikely to be dropped at Stamford Bridge.

Midfield – Fabinho, Henderson, Elliott

Liverpool will remain without Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita for tonight’s game against Chelsea, with both players still recovering from the injuries that have been holding them back in recent weeks. Thiago has returned to full training over the last few days but is not yet ready to be thrown into a match situation as things stand, while Keita is still sidelined with the muscle problem he suffered while on international duty with Guinea.

Stefan Bajcetic will also be unavailable to face Chelsea after being ruled out until the end of the season due to an adductor issue that forced him onto the treatment table last month. An unchanged midfield trio could be deployed against the Blues as a result, which would see Fabinho line up alongside Jordan Henderson and Harvey Elliott once again given Liverpool’s lack of depth in the engine room at present.

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Attack – Salah, Nunez, Gakpo

Darwin Nunez was forced to settle for a place on the bench against City on the weekend but could be in line to return to Liverpool’s starting line-up against Chelsea in place of Diogo Jota, who is enduring the hardest campaign of his Reds career to date. Nunez suffered a cut ankle before the international break and only recovered enough to make a substitute appearance at the Etihad Stadium but will almost certainly be in contention to feature from the off at the next time of asking.

The Uruguayan forward is likely to be joined in attack by Reds talisman Mohamed Salah and January arrival Cody Gakpo, who has shown flashes of brilliance since making the switch to Anfield but is still looking to live up to his full potential after a mixed start to life in the Premier League.

Possible Liverpool XI vs Chelsea (4-3-3) – Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Fabinho, Henderson, Elliott, Salah, Nunez, Gakpo.

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