Liverpool lineup vs Leipzig: Fabinho ruled out, Thiago back

CM – Thiago

Are the Liverpool players starting to demand more from Thiago? The loss against Leicester wasn’t great, but it was particularly damaging for the Spaniard – or so it seems.

Nevertheless, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich man has exactly the type of quality Liverpool need if they’re to emerge from this slump, and this game against Leipzig, with a first-leg win.

Progression in the Champions League is really important and for that Klopp needs his best players in their best positions. Luckily he doesn’t seem to have picked up any more niggles after that horrible tackle by Richarlison in the Everton game.

Thiago still played nearly 80 minutes against Leicester but will have to dig deep on Tuesday night and go again.

CM – Curtis Jones

Jones has probably been one of the more impressive players in the side this season and that says a lot. The youngster has certainly made the most of the various injury problems around the squad to stamp his mark on proceedings.

According to data from StatsBomb and FB Ref, Jones is the top 1% of midfielders for progressive carries and the top 15% for progressive passes – while he also receives nearly 10 progressive passes per game.

That means the youngster is responsible for moving the ball forward, either through dribbling or passing, and is given the ball in advances positions regularly. That’s a lot of responsibility to shoulder, but Jones does it well and that’s why he’ll start.

CM – Georginio Wijnaldum

What Wijnaldum does or doesn’t offer the team has been debated until we’re blue in the face, so I’ll just say this. Klopp loves him, he’s always fit, so he starts.