Liverpool predicted lineup: Jota and Thiago to start as Brazilians miss out

By Ally Darlow

Liverpool travel to Elland Road this weekend to face Leeds United.

There will certainly be changes to the side that Jurgen Klopp used vs Chelsea before the international break, though.

One of the key issues surrounding Liverpool ahead of the weekend is the availability of the Reds’ Brazilian players.

Roberto Firmino, Fabinho and Alisson Becker are all set to miss out this weekend as Liverpool refused to allow them to travel for the international break.

Premier League clubs are working to find a solution to the South American dilemma, but as things stand the Brazilian trio are set to miss out (BBC).

Seeing as all three of the Brazilians started last time out vs Chelsea, Jurgen Klopp will have to make some changes.

Diogo Jota, described by Jordan Henderson as ‘magic’ after the win against Norwich, is expected to return to the fold in place of Firmino.

Reserve goalkeeper Adrian is also set to come in for Alisson.

In midfield, though, is where the most changes will take place.

Against Chelsea, Fabinho started alongside Harvey Elliott and Jordan Henderson.

However, Elliott joins Fabinho in being unavailable for the trip to Leeds.

The England U21 international was forced to withdraw from the setup and will miss this weekend’s clash (BBC).

That gives Klopp a selection dilemma.

The obvious choice to come into the three is Thiago Alcantara, the £20m signing who was welcomed to Anfield last season (BBC).

However, the third midfielder to come in is more of a conundrum.

Naby Keita’s situation is a complicated one (Sky Sports) and throwing him into the mix this weekend seems unreasonable.

That leaves Curtis Jones, a Liverpool academy man, to be the man who could step up into the side on the left of the midfield three.

You can see the predicted lineup in full here: