Jurgen Klopp faces the decision of whether to start Trent Alexander-Arnold immediately after injury when Liverpool visit Tottenham.
The Reds face their biggest test yet on Saturday night when they host Ange Postecoglou’s unbeaten Spurs at home.
Australia’s Tottenham are one of four teams yet to lose in the Premier League, but Liverpool are also in that group and ahead of them. After four consecutive 3-1 wins, including a return to action at Leicester in midweek in the League Cup, Klopp should be on the prowl again.
So how did Liverpool fare in North London?
Team news
Klopp gave a welcome update on Friday, one in and another:
Alexander-Arnold is back in training and ‘looks like he could be in the squad’
But “small setback” for Stefan Bajcetic (calf) – “must take him out”
Thiago (hip) and Conor Bradley (back) are both still out
Liverpool XI v Tottenham
As Klopp prepares for Saturday’s game, the big question is whether Alexander-Arnold will be introduced straight into the starting line-up after four games.
Liverpool’s vice-captain has missed all three with a horn injury and the League Cup clash with Leicester was considered too early for his return, but Klopp confirmed on Friday that he “can be in the squad”.
It is doubtful he will make one of the 10 likely substitutes at the weekend, but the in-form Joe Gomez is a safer bet on the right-back. Reds can take the form of:
Wednesday’s changes show the following lineup:
Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; MacAllister, Szoboszlai, Jones; Salah, Diaz, Nunez
However, there is a chance that Klopp will start Alexander-Arnold after a full week of training and there are other options elsewhere.
The head coach may have to rest, for example, Konate, who played 90 minutes against Leicester, and Joel Matip is an option as a central defender.
Meanwhile, it could be argued that Jones could go out and Ryan Gravenberch, because he was the only player to start in both West Ham and Leicester’s victories over four days.
And while it may not be a popular decision, the fact remains that Darwin Nunez has yet to start an away Premier League game this season.
With that in mind, Klopp could have chosen:
Alexander-Arnold back as Matip partners with Van Dijk
Gravenberch makes his first Premier League start with Mac Allister and Szoboszlai
Cody Gakpo leads the line with Salah and Diaz
If so, Liverpool would look like this:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Salah, Diaz, Gakpo
The fact that it is an away game against the Reds’ toughest opponents to date could make it difficult to predict Klopp’s starting line-up. But Liverpool will still be waiting for their strongest possible side and to make it a sixth win in seven to start their league campaign.
