Liverpool are set to make three changes for Wednesday night’s Premier League showdown against Watford, according to James Pearce.
Writing for the Echo, the Merseyside journalist claimed Naby Keita and Trent Alexander-Arnold are set to be restored to the starting XI after being benched for Sunday’s goalless draw against Manchester United.
Pearce reported Roberto Firmino is also set to miss out with an ankle injury sustained at Old Trafford and he is likely to be replaced by either Xherdan Shaqiri, Daniel Sturridge or Divock Origi.
Keita and Alexander-Arnold set for recalls as Klopp ponders his attacking options for clash with Watford #LFC https://t.co/eAYYvln227
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) February 26, 2019
OPINION
Pearce does not report who is set to be axed by Liverpool to make way for the returns of Keita to central midfield and Alexander-Arnold to right-back, but it is unlikely James Milner will start on Wednesday night. With Keita coming back in, one of Georginio Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho are set to miss out. It should be Henderson, who was subbed off at Old Trafford and was the least effective of the central midfield trio in what was a far better display in that area than some critics have claimed. Liverpool’s front three were atrocious once Firmino went off injured after 31 minutes, and it would not make sense for Sturridge to start on Wednesday. Salah has impressed in a centre-forward role, and he should be the spearhead, with Shaqiri providing guile and creativity from the right flank. The Swiss did little of note during his Old Trafford cameo on what was a day all the Liverpool attackers will want to forget.