Liverpool host newly promoted Luton Town on February 21 at Anfield Stadium. This Premier League fixture allows the Reds an opportunity to extend their one-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the table. This is our Liverpool predicted lineup.
IT'S MATCHDAY
We're back at Anfield to take on Luton Town in the @premierleague #LIVLUT #WalkOn pic.twitter.com/nq4tznLpe5
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 21, 2024
Caoimhin Kelleher has started in goal in Alisson Becker’s absence. Andy Robertson starts at left-back, whilst Conor Bradley has come back into the side with Trent Alexander-Arnold injured. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate pair as centre-backs.
Alexis Mac Allister has moved into a slightly more advanced role with Wataru Endo returning from the Asia Cup as a defensive midfielder. Curtis Jones has been in great form recently.
With Mohamed Salah recovering from injury, the front three has been: Luis Diaz – Darwin Nunez – Diogo Jota. Cody Gakpo has struggled for minutes, with the others in great form.
Liverpool continued their good run of form with an impressive 4-1 victory over Brentford.
It was Salah who stole the headlines, returning from injury with a goal and an assist despite only entering the field of play in the 44th following a Jota injury. Klopp will benefit greatly from having his main man back, just over a week away from the EFL Cup final.
Long balls and flicked headers were the theme of the match. The first goal was courtesy of a van Dijk lofted ball that was flicked on by Jota to set up a beautiful Nunez chip. Similarly, the third goal saw Kelleher hoof the ball upfield for Gakpo to nod onto Salah for his goal.
It was not a completely dominant performance though, with Ivan Toney getting in numerous good positions and eventually slotting past the Irish goalkeeper.
Allison remains out with a “muscle injury” and won’t be back for “foreseeable time”.
Jota and Jones were both substituted within the first half with injuries against Brentford and won’t be available against Luton: “We have Diogo with a knee issue, is ruled out. Curtis, with a bone ligament issue, ruled out”. For Jota, Klopp admitted it may take “months”. The “undroppable” forward has been in excellent form and will be a big loss.
Nunez was substituted at half-time, and “felt a little” so will be assessed before the game. Alexander-Arnold and Szoboszlai were both unavailable against Brentford and continue their recovery: they are “on their way back but not in team training yet”.
The long-term injury list includes Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic, and Joel Matip.
GK: Caoimhin Kelleher
LB: Andy Robertson
CB: Virgil van Dijk
CB: Ibrahima Konate
RB: Joe Gomez
CM: Harvey Elliott
DM: Wataru Endo
CM: Alexis Mac Allister
LW: Luis Diaz
ST: Cody Gakpo
RW: Mohamed Salah
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