Liverpool’s consecutive 1-0 wins represent what looks to be a real change in form for Jurgen Klopp’s men ahead of the World Cup.
All of that could quickly unravel, of course, if performance levels drop in the remaining four league games on the Reds’ schedule before those with international commitments depart for Qatar.
A meeting with the bottom of the table team awaits him at Nottingham Forest; a challenge that, on paper, appears to be comparatively less fraught with obstacles than the clashes with Manchester City and West Ham United.
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Alisson Becker will be the chosen man between the sticks behind a central pairing of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez.
The German strategist is likely to rotate his options a bit more in the middle of the park as Thiago Alcantara started our last four league ties and we may see Curtis Jones getting the nod alongside Fabinho.
Mo Salah and Fabio Carvalho should keep their places on the wings with a fit Bobby Firmino supporting the increasingly impressive Darwin Nunez.
EOTK XI: Alisson, Tsimikas, Van Dijk, Gomez, Alexander-Arnold, Jones, Fabinho, Carvalho, Salah, Firmino, Nunez
#Ep58 of The Empire of the Kop Podcast: Qualifying Liverpool’s UCL group, making a new signing… and more!
