Liverpool travel north to face Newcastle United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
Jurgen Klopp fanned the flames of a bubbling rivalry with Newcastle boss Eddie Howe last year when he described the Magpies as one of “three clubs in world football who can do what they want financially”. Klopp lamented that there is “no ceiling” to state-owned clubs such as Newcastle, a team bankrolled by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund.
Howe fired back that “there is a ceiling” and admitted ahead of Sunday’s game: “I wouldn’t say I laugh at the comments.”
Here’s the XI Klopp may deploy to ensure he gets the last laugh this weekend.
GK: Alisson – After the surprise departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, Klopp was adamant that he could not lose Alisson to Saudi Arabia as well.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold – Growing up as an avid Liverpool fan, Alexander-Arnold “really loved” Xabi Alonso – which is entirely evident from his exquisite range of passing.
CB: Joe Gomez – A potential stand-in for Ibrahima Konate if the anime enthusiast is not deemed fully fit.
CB: Virgil van Dijk – Across ten career meetings with Newcastle, Van Dijk has never ended on the losing side (W9 D1).
LB: Andy Robertson – Restrained by Liverpool’s new system, Robertson has taken one touch in the opposition box this season – during the 2021/22 campaign, the full-back averaged three per game.
CM: Dominik Szoboszlai – Despite standing at 6’1, Szoboszlai has UK size seven feet. The much smaller Lionel Messi, for comparison, is a size seven.
CM: Wataru Endo – After just 24 hours as a Liverpool player, Endo’s “horrible” – in the words of Klopp – debut can largely be explained by circumstance.
CM: Alexis Mac Allister – Once again available for selection after his ban was surprisingly – but justifiably – overturned.
RW: Mohamed Salah – The Egyptian joined a select group of individuals that have either scored or assisted 200 Premier League goals with his penalty rebound against Bournemouth last weekend.
ST: Diogo Jota – The first Premier League away goal of Jota’s career came on his first visit to St James’ Park while he was still a Wolverhampton Wanderers player in 2018.
LW: Luis Diaz – After back-to-back goals this term, Diaz is aiming to become just the fourth Liverpool player to ever score in the first three games of a Premier League season.
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