Liverpool lineup vs Atalanta: Klopp drops MOTM star

CM – Georginio Wijnaldum

Once our midfield was our strength but injuries have restricted numbers down to the bare bones. Thiago is still out injured, Fabinho has only just returned to training alongside Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s knee is still shot to bits.

That means Gini Wijnaldum is going to have to take to the field in his useful role on the left-side of the midfield three. Wijnaldum does the hard yards, puts in a physical performance and keeps things simple.

He can also pop up with a goal threat now and again, and is perfectly suited to this game.

DM – Jordan Henderson

Our captain and leader Jordan Henderson will have to slot back into the defensive midfield role and will seek to dictate things from there. We saw some of his finer passing efforts against the Hammers and he remains an underrated midfielder.

CM – James Milner

Klopp seems to really rate James Milner and wants that extra grit, leadership and experience on the field for these Champions League games. Milner started against Ajax and Midtjylland and is appears like a pattern is developing here.

Klopp could try to field Xherdan Shaqiri here, and he definitely does deserve to start after a few fine performances, including an excellent one last week.

I’d assume Keita will be introduced from the bench, especially if Liverpool need to create and score towards the final stages of the game.