Liverpool will host Russian club Spartak Moscow on Wednesday night in the final group stage game of the Champions League.
The Reds are in a blistering form of late, having gone undefeated in the month of November. We are entering this game on the back of a 5-1 hammering of Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, in the Premier League.
In the Champions League, Jurgen Klopp’s men top the group with 9 points and need a point to qualify for the round of 16. Liverpool will surely top the group with a win over Spartak Moscow, with whom we drew the reverse fixture back in September.
Spartak, meanwhile, in order to qualify for the round of 16, have to somehow beat us and hope Sevilla lose against Maribor.
Centre-back Joel Matip is probably out of December’s run of fixtures with a muscle-injury. Midfielder Adam Lallana, who made his first appearance of the season as a substitute in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea, is set to miss Wednesday’s game as Klopp wants to ease him to full fitness.
Reserve goalkeepers Danny Ward and Adam Bogdan still remain sidelined alongside long-term absentee Nathaniel Clyne.
However, Klopp expects both Joe Gomez and Ragnar Klavan to be passed fit for this game against Spartak Moscow.
The Belgian should come back in the line-up, replacing Loris Karius, who started the last Champions League game against Sevilla.
Having missed Saturday’s 5-1 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion due to a virus, Gomez is expected to be fit and should replace Trent Alexander-Arnold at the right-back.
The Croatian had a horrible October but has done reasonably well since last month. He will look to keep going on the upward curve, against Spartak Moscow.
Klavan was only fit enough to be named among the Reds’ substitutes on the trip to the south coast. He is deemed to be fit and is likely to get another run out in the starting line-up on Wednesday due to Matip’s absence.
The Spaniard has firmly established himself as the first-choice left-back ahead of Andy Robertson. That is unlikely to change, despite Robertson enjoying a rare start against Brighton.
The skipper remains a trusted player of Klopp’s and he should start as the deepest of the midfield trio for the Reds.
The German has been impressive for us and scored the opener in Saturday’s rout of Brighton. His energy and passing will be vital in unlocking the Spartak defence early on Wednesday.
The little magician scored a gem of a free-kick at the Amex stadium. The creative hub of this Liverpool side, he will have a major role to play if we are to win this game.
No prizes for guessing who is going to start on the right wing. The Premier League’s top goal-scorer is looking deadly at the moment and will pose the biggest attacking threat to the opposition on Wednesday.
The Brazilian forward will be high on confidence after having netted against Brighton. He is a sure shot starter.
The Senegalese forward can single-handedly win games for Liverpool and has shown it time and again. He will be raring to have a go at the Spartak defence right from the 1st minute.
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