Liverpool team news: Expected 4-3-3 vs RB Leipzig for Champions League knockout opener

Liverpool: Klopp responds to quit rumours

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will be hoping to put his side’s Premier League struggles behind him when they return to Champions League action this evening with their last-16 first-leg tie against RB Leipzig. The German head coach is expected to make some changes from the side who lost 3-1 to Leicester at the weekend. Express Sport has a go at predicting what starting line-up he will go with.

Goalkeeper: Alisson

It’s been a nightmare few weeks for the Brazilian with back-to-back bad decisions made in games against Manchester City and Leicester.

The errors highlight the difficult life of a goalkeeper though as while Alisson made one catastrophic mistake against Leicester, he made a number of top-quality saves that were otherwise forgotten about in the defeat.

Liverpool fans will be hoping the shot-stopper can quickly put those errors behind him though as they begin the Champions League knockout stages against Leipzig tonight.

And having Alisson between the sticks will only better their chances of getting off to a strong start.

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Defenders: Alexander-Arnold, Henderson, Kabak, Robertson

Fabinho’s fitness may well change this but Klopp may well want to stick with Kabak in defence to give the January loan signing a run of games.

Klopp will also be desperate to push Henderson back into midfield sooner rather than later and getting Kabak up to speed in the Liverpool side will be paramount to achieving that.

If Fabinho is fit enough to start then Henderson will almost certainly be moved into midfield straight away.

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Midfielders: Thiago, Wijnaldum, Shaqiri

Going on the assumption that Fabinho won’t start though then Klopp also has James Milner’s injury to think about.

The 35-year-old was forced off early on against Leicester, but the Liverpool boss may be hoping for something different from his midfield three against Leipzig.

Thiago should be fit enough to start again while Georginio Wijnaldum remains a stalwart in the starting line-up.

But Xherdan Shaqiri offers Liverpool something different further up the pitch where they have been lacking in recent weeks.

Forwards: Salah, Mane, Firmino

Mohamed Salah continues to score goals for Liverpool but the front three are far from a unified unit at the moment.

They seem static at times with a lack of creativity when breaking teams down which had been a staple of their play just last season.

But they seem to come alive on the European stage and Klopp will be hoping this game can prove the catalyst for all three finding some good form together again.

If Diogo Jota was fit then Klopp may well have thought about changing things up but his usual front three are almost certain to start.

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