Andrew Robertson (£7.1m) is the latest victim of manager Jurgen Klopp’s festive rotation, having to watch the match against Watford from the bench as Sadio Mané (£12.3m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.3m) return to Liverpool’s starting line-up.
Today is their fourth of ten December fixtures but Klopp has selected an attacking side in their quest to go 11 points clear of Leicester. James Milner (£5.3m) is in at left-back over Robertson.
Not only are Mané, Mohamed Salah (£12.2m) and Roberto Firmino (£9.3m) all starting this lunchtime, the inclusion of Xherdan Shaqiri (£6.3m) suggests a potential system change to 4-2-3-1 from the usual 4-3-3.
At the back, Dejan Lovren (£5.3m) limped off after 39 minutes of last week’s 3-0 win at Bournemouth but was deemed fit enough to start in Salzburg on Tuesday. However, he was forced off again with a hamstring injury and his place alongside Virgil van Dijk (£6.4m) has been given to Joe Gomez (£5.1m).
Georginio Wijnaldum (£5.4m) comes in for Naby Keita (£5.8m) in midfield, who joins Robertson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (£6.2m) and Divock Origi (£5.2m) as Liverpool substitutes.
In the opposing dugout is Nigel Pearson. His first team selection as Watford manager has brought two changes from last Saturday’s dour 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace.
Adam Masina (£4.3m) and Roberto Pereyra (£5.6m) have made way, with experienced centre-back Adrian Mariappa (£4.2m) starting at right-back and Will Hughes (£5.4m) playing behind captain Troy Deeney (£6.2m).
The lack of Jose Holebas (£4.7m) has forced usual right-back Kiko Femenia (£4.2m) to the left against Salah, although the Hornets may see the pace of Ismaïla Sarr (£6.2m) against Milner as a way to find some success against the European champions.
Liverpool XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Milner, van Dijk, Gomez, Alexander-Arnold; Wijnaldum, Henderson; Mané, Shaqiri, Salah; Firmino.
Watford XI (4-2-3-1): Foster; Femenia, Cathcart, Kabasele, Mariappa; Capoue, Doucoure; Deulofeu, Hughes, Sarr; Deeney.
4 years, 4 months agoThe guy playing me in the cup is playing a bench boost to beat me. I had 78 to his 77 last week so he didn’t want to roll the dice.
Do the bench points count? To keep it fair, I think it would make more sense to be first 11 score net of transfers.