Liverpool is set to return to action in the Europa League just five days after their defeat against Tottenham, which saw them finish the match with only nine players. Jurgen Klopp faces some important decisions as he prepares his lineup for this European encounter.
Jurgen Klopp is expected to field Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota in the Europa League clash on Thursday, knowing that both players will soon serve domestic suspensions due to their red cards during the recent Premier League match against Tottenham. Jones received a straight red card following a VAR review in the first half, while Jota, who came on as a substitute, received two quick yellow cards in the second half.
How Liverpool might line up against Union SG
An appeal against Jones’ red card was unsuccessful, which means both players will be unavailable for Liverpool’s upcoming league match against Brighton on Sunday. However, they are eligible to play in the Europa League and could start in the match against Union SG on Thursday.
Liverpool kicked off their European campaign with a 3-1 victory away against LASK, showing resilience after conceding an early goal. Union SG, on the other hand, drew against Toulouse in their opening match, with Mohamed Amoura netting a second-half equalizer.
Alexander Blessin’s side might feature English defender Christian Burgess and Kevin Mac Allister, the brother of Alexis Mac Allister, who both started in the match against Toulouse. Now, let’s predict how Liverpool might line up as they aim for a second win in the group stage, according to Mirror Football.
Goalkeeper and Defense:
Trent Alexander-Arnold is set for his first start since recovering from injury
Caoimhin Kelleher received the nod in the previous Europa League fixture against LASK and also played in the EFL Cup match against Leicester. Jurgen Klopp has spoken highly of Kelleher, and he is expected to maintain his position in goal on Thursday.
Ibrahima Konate, who made his first start in a month against LASK, should feature alongside Joe Gomez in defense. Trent Alexander-Arnold, who returned from injury recently, may start on the right, while Kostas Tsimikas could be on the left flank.
Midfield:
Curtis Jones is suspended in the league but can play in Europe
Wateru Endo, one of Klopp’s summer signings, is likely to play as the deepest-lying midfielder in Liverpool’s midfield three. Harvey Elliott, who was an unused substitute against Tottenham, is well-rested and should be in the starting lineup. Curtis Jones, despite his domestic suspension, is expected to join the midfield.
Stefan Bajcetic, another young midfielder, will not be rushed back after his recent injury setback, according to Jurgen Klopp. Diogo Jota, who will miss only one league game, is likely to be included in the lineup against Union SG.
Attack:
Darwin Nunez is in line to replace the injured Cody Gakpo
With Cody Gakpo dealing with an injury he sustained while scoring a goal against Tottenham, Darwin Nunez is expected to take his place in the starting lineup. Nunez was prepared to come on as a substitute when Jota received his red card but remained unused.
For the forward positions, Jurgen Klopp has limited options due to injuries and suspensions. Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah are the only other senior forwards available for the weekend’s league action. Therefore, Jurgen Klopp may choose to start only one of them in the Europa League, with the possibility of Ben Doak, who started in the previous Europa League match, getting another opportunity.
Jurgen Klopp is keen to build on Liverpool’s performance from their recent match against Tottenham, even though they didn’t secure the desired result. He emphasized the need for a strong mentality and preparedness as they face a Union SG side that is performing exceptionally well in their league and has been undefeated in European away matches for a considerable time.
