OPINION
Liverpool can secure an impressive victory over Arsenal on Saturday if they recall Naby Keita and Fabinho to the starting XI to provide drive and impetus from midfield.
Jurgen Klopp will surely spurn rotation and field his strongest possible XI ahead of the first of two marquee clashes in five days for his title-chasing side.
Injuries to James Milner, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez men the manager will not be able to select his first-choice side, but the line-up will not be too different to the best Klopp could call upon.
The manager somewhat surprisingly field a virtual full-strength team against Newcastle United on Boxing Day, but there could be repercussions further down the line in terms of the energy levels of key men.
Two changes that will help Liverpool’s chances of overcoming Arsenal are to recall summer signings Keita and Fabinho to the line-up at the expense of Jordan Henderson and Xherdan Shaqiri.
The skipper, 28, set the tone for Liverpool’s wins against Wolves and Newcastle, but Fabinho has been outstanding in his recent appearances and must return to anchor the midfield.
He is starting to bed in at Anfield, the same as Keita, who has delivered a series of focused displays of late, often on left side of the three attackers behind Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian superstar has had such success in his new spearhead role that Klopp will surely persist with that, and use Roberto Firmino once again behind him as a playmaking number 10.
Given the calibre of the opponents, Klopp should resist the urge to use Xherdan Shaqiri from the start and instead utilise him as A-list back-up from the bench.