Liverpool 4-3-3 lineup vs Ajax: Crisis continues as Joel Matip out
Left-back: Andy Robertson
If this wasn’t the first Champions League game of the season, you’d almost bank on Kostas Tsimikas to start this one. The Greek is yet to make his debut in the Premier League and he was signed to keep Andy Robertson fresh.
As things stand, there’s no way Klopp will risk throwing Tsimikas in to this massive game. Liverpool need to claim three points here and having Robertson on the pitch is one of the best ways to do this.
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Ajax might play in the Eredivisie but teams who underestimate them tend to come unstuck. They’ve got fine forwards, and new signing Antony will be charging at Robbo all game. The Brazilian already has three goals this season and will be hungry for more.
Centre-back: Joe Gomez
This is a massive game for Gomez. It’s now up to him to decide whether he wants to be an elite player and go down as one of the finer central defenders in Liverpool history.
Gomez has all the raw ingredients to do that, but he’s going through another wobble and wasn’t trusted to start against Everton. The injury to van Dijk forced Klopp’s hand, and now Gomez must not betray his gaffer.
Centre-back: Fabinho
Matip may not be able to start this game and that would leave Liverpool with just one other option: start Fabinho.
Klopp would never have had this scenario in his head when the decision was made to stop looking for a Dejan Lovren replacement. The idea was that the arrival of Thiago would free Fab from some of his midfield responsibilities, if required.
Well now they’re going to be required for a whole season.
Right-back: Trent Alexander-Arnold
Neco Williams isn’t ready to start in the Champions League so this one is a no brainer. Trent Alexander-Arnold will start.