Today, Liverpool plays Toulouse with the chance to advance to the next round of the Europa League. Jürgen Klopp ought to make his selection, according to three of our writers.
Liverpool’s match against Toulouse today is a chance for qualification from Europa League group E. If the Reds manage to pick up three more points while travelling to the south of France, they will guarantee a spot in the knockout stages.
With total control of their group, Jürgen Klopp’s team appears to be ready for kickoff, with qualification appearing to be a formality. Liverpool might go to the last-16 with a victory, but it would also ensure them a spot in the following round.
With two games left, three points for the Reds plus dropped points for Union SG would secure the top spot. Thus, Liverpool would escape having to play a second play-off match against a Champions League elimination team, something Klopp would
The injuries to Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch, however, present the Liverpool manager with some selection challenges this evening. Due to a small illness, Virgil van Dijk has not travelled, but he should be OK for the weekend.
However, Klopp must choose his starting lineup against Toulouse before then. These are the groups that some of the authors here at Liverpool.com would pick.
Matt Addison – Ben Doak returns
This is a little trickier than usual because of the growing number of players who are unavailable. We know that Caoimhín Kelleher will be in goal and I’m going for Joe Gomez at right-back. Playing Jarell Quansah and Luke Chambers on the left side of the defense would be a risk with the duo being inexperienced away from home in Europe, so Kostas Tsimikas can have the first hour.
In midfield, I didn’t really want to pick Harvey Elliott (I’d rather have him in the attack) but there is not loads of choice. Alexis Mac Allister might as well play because he is suspended for the weekend. Wataru Endōdefinitely will.
Ben Doak is back fit again so can play on the right. Cody Gakpo didn’t start last time out so does here, and there is no point having brought Luis Díaz if he isn’t going to be on the left. The Colombian is a good bet for another goal.
My starting XI: Kelleher; Gomez,Matip, Quansah, Tsimikas; Elliott,Endō, Mac Allister;Doak, Gakpo, Díaz.
Predicted scoreline: 2-0 to Liverpool.
James Findlater – Alexis Mac Allister starts, Cody Gakpo in
With neither Curtis Jones nor Ryan Gravenberch set to be involved, Liverpool’s midfield may need a bit of shuffle. Then again, Mac Allister’s Premier League suspension after picking up a fifth yellow card against Luton might mean we see him in action here instead.
Bearing that in mind, I’m starting the Argentine alongside Endō and Elliott in midfield. It is tempting to go with Dominik Szoboszlai, but he’ll be needed at the weekend, so best not to risk him.
Liverpool’s home shirt for the 2023/2024 campaign pays homage to Bill Shankly and the legendary Reds manager’s final season in charge at Anfield. The Nike shirt features a bright red design with a bold white contrast on the colour and cuffs.
There could be an argument to start Darwin Núñez in order to get him to shake off his bad misses at the weekend, but instead, I’d give Cody Gakpo the chance to stake a claim for Brentford on Sunday. If Ben Doak is fit to start, he can fill in for Mohamed Salah on the right, and I’d be tempted to go with Luis Díaz on the left, although it’s completely understandable if Diogo Jota starts ahead of him.
Jarell Quansah should get another chance to impress in defense alongside Joël Matip, with Joe Gomez at right-back. Whether Kostas Tsimikas or Luke Chambers starts at left-back could give a big clue to Klopp’s thinking for the Premier League, and I suspect the former will get the chance to stake his claim.
My starting XI: Kelleher; Gomez, Matip, Quansah, Tsimikas; Elliott,Endō,Mac Allister; Doak, Gakpo, Díaz.
Predicted scoreline: 3-1 to Liverpool.
David Comerford – Luke Chambers starts amid nine changes
I’d make one change to the back five that started the reverse fixture against Toulouse, with Quansah getting another deserved chance in the heart of defense alongside Matip — that partnership looked decent against Bournemouth — and Gomez shifting out to the right instead of Alexander-Arnold. I thought Chambers had a reasonable game when Thursday’s opponent came to Anfield, and that was without being at 100 per cent after injury. On that basis, I’d give him another shot here in the knowledge that Liverpool already looks comfortable in the group, and rest Tsimikas for the weekend.
Liverpool’s midfield options are looking a little thin right now, with Stefan Bajčetić and Thiago out long-term and Jones and Gravenberch both missing from training on Wednesday. That essentially gives Klopp four senior players to choose from, and Szoboszlai is the one I’d rest. Endō shouldn’t play the whole game if the manager wants to use him against Brentford in the absence of the suspended Mac Allister, who gets a rare chance in his favored position here.
As for the frontline, I hope Doak is ready for another start after returning to the bench against Luton. It would be good to see him given another opportunity. Beyond that, Gakpo feels like a nailed-on selection for this one, while Díaz could use the minutes if he’s still happy to play.
