Liverpool: This is the back four we want against Crystal Palace
By David Gate
Right Back: Nathaniel Clyne
An ankle injury to Joe Gomez while playing for England last week is going to rule out the defender for up to four weeks. The timing is terrible for Klopp who had previously been able to pick from a fully fit squad. That gives him a decision to make over the next four games.
It was very likely that Gomez would have gotten the nod for the City game meaning Trent Alexander-Arnold would be playing against Palace. But now you have to think about who is best to lineup against City.
Alexander-Arnold got torn apart by Leroy Sane and Kevin de Bruyne at the Etihad in September. He has improved in leaps and bound since then but his below par display against Manchester United three weeks ago showed again that he is still a young player learning how to play the right back position at the highest level.
If Nathaniel Clyne is fit, ready and on form the I think Klopp would prefer to use him in the Champions League as the more experienced defender. Clyne has not played a competitive game for the Reds this season and so if the manager is even considering playing him in the next month he needs to start this game against Palace. The manager needs to know where things stand ahead of the quarter final legs and the Merseyside derby next weekend.