Liverpool predicted line-up vs. Sheffield United: two changes made as £40m duo dropped amid injury crisis

Liverpool will look to maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League when they welcome struggling Sheffield United to Anfield on Thursday night – but Jürgen Klopp will once again have to make do without several key first-team players.

Andrew Robertson missed the weekend win over Brighton & Hove Albion with an ankle injury while the likes of Alisson and Trent Alexander-Arnold have yet to return from fitness issues of their own. In total, as many as nine members of the first-team squad could be unavailable.

Liverpool will still be expected to win at a canter, of course, but we’ve got all of the latest injury news and updates below for you, as well as our best guess at Klopp’s likely starting XI. And if you’re looking for some information to help you plan out your Fantasy Premier League team, you can find our Top 3,000 FPL coach’s latest advice column by clicking here.

Goalkeeper & Defence

Robertson picked up an ankle injury during Scotland’s defeat to Northern Ireland over the international break, and Klopp decided not to take a chance on him in the 2-1 win over Brighton despite his return to training prior to the match. The German head coach said that Robertson “trained completely normal but we don’t take any kind of risks when we don’t have to.” Robertson is believed to have continued full training ahead of Thursday’s game.

Elsewhere, Alexander-Arnold (knee) and Alisson (hamstring) remain injured despite hopes that they might be back in action after the international break. Full-back Alexander-Arnold told Sky Sports that he was “in the final stages” of his return to fitness and there is some chance that he features this week, but there is still not timeline for Alisson’s return. Joël Matip (cruciate ligament) is out for the rest of the season.

Midfield

Curtis Jones, who has been out of action since February’s injury-strewn win over Brentford, is closing in on a return but it remains unclear as to whether he will be available this week. Klopp has said that he is “not sure if [Jones] is available, but will be in training.” A place on the bench, at least, is a possibility, although given Klopp’s comments on Robertson is seems unlikely that he will be risked if not absolutely necessary.

Elsewhere, Klopp has a near complete set of midfielders to choose from, with the only other omissions likely to be long-term absentees Thiago Alcântra (hamstring) and Stefan Bajčetić (calf), neither of whom are expected to feature again over the course of the campaign.

Forwards

There are not believed to be any changes in the status of the forward line, with Diogo Jota – another victim of the Brentford match – still not back in full training as he works to overcome a knee injury. His return is not believed to be far away, but it appears that the Sheffield United match will come too soon.

Teenage winger Ben Doak (knee) is the only other player expected to be unavailable, with the young Scotsman unlikely to play again until next season following surgery.

Full predicted line-up vs. Sheffield United

Kelleher; Gomez, Van Dijk, Konaté, Bradley; Endo, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Gakpo, Salah, Núñez.