Just a short preview.
Biggest news is that Trent has not traveled, despite the fact that he trained with the team yesterday. No word on why.
With Man City looming on Sunday, TAA’s absence is particularly troubling. He is currently both the least replaceable player in the team, and the player for whom our backup is weakest.
Neco Williams is yet to play this year, because he was recovering from an injury at the time of the League Cup game against Norwich City. He’s back now, and he might start today.
When Trent fell ill on match day for the Crystal Palace game, Milner filled in. Milner did great, despite being up against Wilfried Zaha. Porto also has a fast, tricky left winger — Luís Diaz, who was reportedly a Barcelona transfer target.
If Milner is our best option at right back, then Klopp may be tempted to start him there both today and Sunday, since there’s a relatively long gap between those matches, and then Trent would have the international break to recover from whatever ails him.
If Milner does play right back — either today and/or Sunday — then that further limits our options in the midfield. Before learning of Trent’s (undisclosed) problem, I had expected Milner to start today in midfield. Elliott and Thiago are both out. Naby is now again available, but has only been back in training one day.
Hendo needs a break this week — he shouldn’t be starting three times. For this reason, I think Milner may play midfield today despite Trent’s absence. Naby might start instead, but the fact that he’s only just back from injury suggests he’s not the best option. My guess is that our starting midfield against Porto will be Fabinho, Milner, and Jones. If that’s true, then Neco Williams will likely be our right back, although Joe Gomez is also an option. Personally, I think Neco Williams would be preferable. Neco will render us more vulnerable at the back, but his presence would allow us to retain at least some of the team balance with his offensive skills. Gomez at right back screws up that balance in a serious way.
Porto will probably press us today, and thus we should have some space in which to operate.
I expect one or both of the CBs to rotate today — I’d like to see the Gomez/Konaté pairing. Finally, Firmino will probably start today, and it’s possible Salah will be on the bench. But, with Trent out, I think that particular rotation is far less likely. Tsimikas also might start, but again I think that’s less likely in Trent’s absence.
Lineup guess:
I think our defense, although it’s likely to be quite different personnel from Saturday, will want a clean sheet, after giving up three against Brentford.
Porto 0 – LFC 1
