Predicted Liverpool XI v Aston Villa: ‘Exceptional talent’ and ‘coach’s dream’ to start

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Liverpool are in FA Cup third-round action tonight in a tie away at Aston Villa, with manager Jurgen Klopp likely to make widescale changes to his line-up.

The hosts will be without their first team, manager Dean Smith and his staff after an outbreak at the club’s training ground.

As a result, Klopp could feel even more inclined to rest several of his jaded stars, whose workload has been incredibly heavy in recent weeks amid injuries.

Here’s our predictions as to who could be named in the Liverpool XI tonight.

In goal, Alisson Becker is likely to be rested, with Caoimhin Kelleher lining up in between the sticks.

The 22-year-old covered superbly for the Brazilian last month, impressing against Ajax and Midtjylland in the Champions League, plus against Wolves in the Premier League.

Klopp is likely to go with a back four made up of three academy graduates who, like Kelleher, have impressed in recent months.

Neco Williams should replace Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, while Nathaniel Phillips and Rhys Williams could be at centre-back.

Andrew Robertson is another who needs a rest and, with Kostas Tsimikas out, James Milner looks most likely to step in at left-back.

Academy prodigies aside, this game could be a superb opportunity for Klopp to give minutes to established players returning from injury.

Thiago Alcantara and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looked somewhat rusty against Southampton and need more minutes in their legs, so both should be given the nod.

The Spaniard – deemed a “coach’s dream” by Niko Kovac – has had a difficult time with injuries since arriving at Liverpool, so he will hopefully continue his progress to full match fitness tonight.

With the likes of Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum most likely being given the night off, 19-year-old Curtis Jones – who Klopp has called an “exceptional talent” – will probably start.

And up front, three fringe players are likely to be given a chance from the off – Takumi Minamino on the left, Xherdan Shaqiri on the right, and Divock Origi leading the line.

Predicted Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Kelleher, N Williams, R Williams, Phillips, Milner, Jones, Thiago, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Shaqiri, Origi, Minamino