Jurgen Klopp faces a number of difficult decisions ahead of Liverpool's trip to Anfield on Wednesday.
Jurgen Klopp made six substitutions in Liverpool's 4-0 win over Southampton on Saturday, resorting to what was perhaps his strongest available XI on paper.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, and Diogo Jota all returned as the Reds cruised to victory.
With Liverpool's previous match, a 2-0 victory over Porto, essentially a dead-rubber for the Reds, and their progression to the Champions League knockout stages as group-winners already secured, Klopp was free to rotate his side with little riding on the night, resulting in so many changes back to strength against the Saints.
It's a different story for Liverpool's next match, as they travel to Goodison Park to face Rafa Benitez's Everton in the first Merseyside derby of the season.
The Reds will be looking to settle a few scores against the Blues after losing Van Dijk and Thiago Alcantara to long-term injuries in an away match where VAR denied them victory last season before falling to a humiliating Anfield loss in February.
With that in mind, let's take a look at the possible alterations Klopp might make ahead of Liverpool's trip to Goodison Park.
Should Konate be kept or should Matip be brought in?
Prior to the game against Southampton, there was much debate on whether Andy Robertson, despite returning from injury, should be kept out of the starting lineup, given his subpar showing this season compared to Kostas Tsimikas' impressive performances.
However, the Scot put any doubts to rest with a superb performance against the Saints, re-establishing himself as the Reds' first-choice left-back.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson, and Virgil van Dijk will undoubtedly retain their positions, but Klopp faces a dilemma.
Ibrahima Konate started Liverpool's victories over Porto and Southampton, and admittedly had some shaky moments, but was the Frenchman keeping his place a sign of him overtaking Joel Matip in the pecking order, or was he given two 90-minute spells in a row to give the Cameroonian a rest ahead of the Merseyside derby? The latter is to be expected...
Thiago's choice was explained.
Given the Reds' injury troubles in midfield this season, the sight of Thiago Alcantara leaving after less than an hour may have alarmed some who aren't paying close attention at Anfield. After all, it's easier said than done with a 3 p.m. kickoff with the playmaker netting his second goal in a week in a superb engine room performance
Jordan Henderson was also taken off early, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner taking their places as the Reds' injury difficulties ease, even though Naby Keita, Curtis Jones, and Harvey Elliott remain out.
Given the four-day turnaround and early conclusion to proceedings against Southampton, it appears reasonable to assume that Thiago and Henderson will keep their places, with Fabinho as the holding midfielder one of the first names on the squad sheet.
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