Liverpool take on Burnley in the Premier League as they look to avoid a potential banana skin of a game.
After the Reds’ midweek fixture against Sevilla, what will manager Jurgen Klopp do with a team who will play their third game in eight days?
The Clarets aren’t going to be a pushover and they will knuckle down and grind out results, although their away form is historically poor.
Sean Dyche’s men showed that with their 1-1 draw against Hottenham Hotspur at Wembley – and please put aside talk of a stadium voodoo, Spurs are a hard team to play and Burnley did well to earn a point there.
It also shows what underestimating an opponent can do, and Klopp will try and ensure that the Lancastrian outfit don’t leave Merseyside with anything other than their tail between their legs.
With Sadio Mane serving the first of his three game ban, who will come in on the left-hand flank? And which goalkeeper will the German decide to start the fixture with? Check out the main talking points below.
Who will start in goal?
Nobody seems to know who Liverpool’s best goalkeeper is, especially Klopp and his backroom team.
Belgian Simon Mignolet and German Loris Karius have basically shared the duties between them this season, but who will start against Burnley?
After Karius’ performance in the Champions League on Wednesday, will he get a second chance to impress in a week or will former Sunderland stopper Mignolet be reinstated for league duties?
These are not healthy talking points to have, but until one of the two can forge ahead and claim the gloves for the whole campaign it’s a point that will be repeated over and over again.
What happens with Daniel Sturridge?
With Sadio Mane suspended, it will give the chance for someone to impress. Will that person be Daniel Sturridge?
We all know what he can do when he is fit, but will Klopp give the England international a chance to prove himself as part of the attacking trident.
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Philippe Coutinho could shift out onto the left wing to allow the former Chelsea striker to play through the middle, while Mohamed Salah could start out on the right hand side.
Of course, Klopp could throw a curveball in with the selection of Ben Woodburn, or even bring somelike like Lazar Markovic in from the cold or play Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain away from his prefered central role *shudder*.
Who plays alongside Joel Matip?
In, out, shake it all about! You do the Lovren and you turn around, that’s what it’s all about! The Croatian defender has been in and out the side more times than a fiddler’s elbow over the course of his Anfield career, but should he start on Saturday?
On reflection, Ragnar Klavan was a poor choice to contain Manchester City’s attack – but who comes in to partner Matip?
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Will it be Lovren or will it be Joe Gomez, the young defender who looks like he’s got the world at his feet and a bucket load of talent.
Whatever happens, Klopp knows his defence needs to be sorted out to make sure they won’t be bullied by Burnley’s twin threats of Chris Wood and Sam Vokes.
Stop Chris Wood
New Zealand international Chris Wood has had the season and a bit of his life and Liverpool will need to work out how to stop him.
The Clarets will probably look to feed him through crosses delivery from a wide position. If Dyche picks two strikers again, it will be a difficult job for whoever plays in the centre of defence.
Wood is a good finisher – his two goals this campaign have proven that. Although if the Reds can cut off the supply from midfield, there is every reason to believe he won’t get the ammunition required to put the ball in the back of the net.
How much rotation will there be?
This will be a delicate issue for Klopp and his backroom staff. Too little and players will be ran off their legs, too much and the team might be rendered unstable.
One thing is for sure, there are the legs for it. In midfield alone James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Marko Grujic could come into the side to give it a fresh look.
With the game being played out in front of the Kop, could it be the time for Georginio Wijnaldum to shine? He loves it at home, after all.
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And if Coutinho is placed in a midfield role, can Klopp afford to start more than one attack minded midfielder alongside him?