Liverpool must make six changes to their team if they are to climb to the top of the league with a Saturday lunchtime victory at Bournemouth, according to James Pearce.
The Merseyside correspondent of the Echo claims Jurgen Klopp should recall Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andrew Robertson, Fabinho, Georginio Wijnaldum, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah to the starting XI for the Vitality Stadium clash.
Pearce believes Liverpool need “fresh legs after that gruelling contest at Burnley” in midweek and he would axe Alberto Moreno, James Milner, Jordan Henderson, Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi as well as the injured Joe Gomez.
Pearce’s team (4-3-3): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Keita; Salah, Firmino, Shaqiri.
OPINION
Pearce has his ear to the ground where all things Liverpool are concerned and he is unlikely to be too wide of the mark when it comes to the composition of the XI that will take to the field against Eddie Howe’s high-flying hosts. Wednesday night’s 3-1 triumph at Burnley took plenty out of the Merseysiders and there will surely be wholesale changed as Jurgen Klopp’s side go in search of a fifth consecutive league win to keep the pressure on Manchester City and stop them running away with the title before we have even put up our Christmas trees. Two players who can’t be rotated are Alisson and Virgil van Dijk, the brilliant 2018 signings who have helped transform a Liverpool back line that once got a nose bleed every time the opposition had a set-piece and now looks more granite-solid that any assembled by the club in the last 30 years. Further up the pitch, fresh bodies and minds are needed, and the team will certainly be more potent if Salah returns to the attack after he was rested for the opening hour in midweek.