Liverpool faces some selection challenges ahead of their upcoming Premier League match against Aston Villa.

For the second consecutive weekend, Liverpool had to come from behind to secure a memorable victory, this time against Newcastle United on Sunday. Substitute Darwin Nunez scored a late brace to overturn an early goal by Anthony Gordon, resulting in a 2-1 win for the Reds, despite playing with 10 men following Virgil van Dijk’s early red card.

Liverpool is now looking to maintain their impressive start to the season when they face Aston Villa next Sunday. Let’s explore the potential changes that Jurgen Klopp could make for this upcoming match.

Central Defense Concerns

Liverpool is likely to be without their preferred center-back duo, as Van Dijk is suspended, and Ibrahima Konate is uncertain due to a muscle injury that kept him out against Newcastle. Joel Matip started in the previous match and was later joined by Joe Gomez, with Jarell Quansah making his debut as a substitute. There’s a possibility that Nat Phillips could leave before the Friday transfer deadline.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to continue as the right-back since Gomez is required in another position, and Conor Bradley is injured. On the left, Andy Robertson’s impressive performance against Newcastle keeps him ahead of Kostas Tsimikas. In goal, Alisson Becker remains the undisputed first choice, with Caoimhin Kelleher and Adrian as backup options.

Midfield Options

Liverpool hopes to have more midfield choices with Thiago Alcantara and Curtis Jones likely to return to full training this week. Thiago has been out for four months, while Jones has been sidelined for a few weeks. Stefan Bajcetic, who recently returned to the bench after a lengthy injury absence, is still awaiting his first minutes.

However, it’s probable that the same midfield trio that started against Newcastle will retain their places. Wataru Endo, the defensive midfielder, made his first start, while Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai played pivotal roles in the victory.

Harvey Elliott continues to impress with his cameos and might be close to earning a starting spot. Additionally, Cody Gakpo is back as an attacking option.

The Nunez Dilemma

One of the key selection dilemmas for Klopp is whether to reward Darwin Nunez with a start after his two-goal performance. Nunez has had limited starts in the center of the attack since February, with players like Gakpo and Diogo Jota often preferred.

Luis Diaz, who scored in the first two games of the season, was substituted when Van Dijk received the red card and could face competition for his role from both Gakpo and Jota, especially after Jota’s impressive performance coming off the bench against Newcastle.

Mohamed Salah, who has played as a forward in a 4-4-1 formation when Liverpool had 10 men, remains the first-choice on the right flank. Teenager Ben Doak was on the bench for the weekend’s match.