“Naby Keita comes in when Wijnaldum gets a break.”
Ian Doyle: It’s another quick turnaround for Liverpool with a third game in less than seven days.
And after Jürgen Klopp has kept the rotation to a minimum in the middle of the week, he will certainly try to make changes for the trip to Crystal Palace at today’s Premier League start.
There are no problems with the goalkeeper. Alisson Becker stays between the sticks.
Joel Matip’s availability will allow the center-back to be restored alongside Fabinho in place of Rhys Williams, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson once again serving as full-backs.
One area that definitely deserves a change is the midfield.
This could be the game in which Gini Wijnaldum takes a well-deserved breather and falls on the bench with Naby Keita to join Curtis Jones and skipper Jordan Henderson.
Up above, Mohamed Salah, who was an unused replacement at Selhurst Park last season, missed out a little again.
Instead, Takumi Minamino can start on the left, with Sadio Mane moving to the right and Roberto Firmino staying in the middle.
And since nine substitutes are now allowed, I’ll take my boots just in case.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; Henderson, Jones, Keita; Mane, Firmino, Minamino.
“Just one change as Liverpool keep the pressure on.”
Connor Dunn: Liverpool are now at the very top of the Premier League and it’s time to put pressure on everyone else by pulling another three points clear in the weekend’s first game against Crystal Palace.
With that in mind, my back four remains almost unchanged from Tottenham – only Joel Matip comes into play for the excellent Rhys Williams – simply because he has a high-level center-back at the heart of the defense and he’s back in full training.
The top three are of course the top three as I want to be as strong as I can to advance at least the first hour in the game before any changes can be made.
My midfield also stays the same, I’m careful if I do too much with Curtis Jones too soon, but the way he plays means he stays on the side to keep showing off his stuff but I would think about it Introducing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Naby Keita if necessary later.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Jones; Salah, Firmino, mane
“Selection headaches can wait a week”
David Lynch: Jurgen Klopp has seen some significant fitness improvements lately, but they are unlikely to come into play at Selhurst Park.
Midfield duo Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita were both part of the squad when they faced Tottenham midweek following an injury.
But with a full week separating that clash with Palace and Liverpool’s next game, Klopp could be mistaken on the caution side if he just used both off the bench.
It seems like a sensible option to beat the same XI who beat Tottenham – with re-fit Joel Matip instead of Rhys Williams – to go one more time and postpone any selection problems until after a well-deserved week off.
My team (4-3-3) Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Jones; Salah, mane, Firmino.
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“Just two changes for Liverpool”
Sean Bradbury: At some point during this hectic Christmas season, Andy Robertson and Gini Wijnaldum will need a break.
But we haven’t quite reached that point yet.
This is a tricky task against stubborn opposition. With Sadio Mane battling for form, Robertson will be a major threat on the left. And Wijnaldum’s recent appearances have been imperious, so he has to continue in the middle.
The strikers will also have to manage their logs soon. That too can wait until after Christmas.
So there are only two changes for me in a strong line-up to take on Roy Hodgson’s indictment.
After Joel Matip is back in training, he joins Rhys Williams.
And in midfield, Naby Keita gets the nod to Curtis Jones on this occasion.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Keita; Salah, Firmino, mane.
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