Liverpool predicted line-up vs. Fulham: seven changes made from midweek as £45m forward misses out

Liverpool host Fulham on Sunday in the Premier League as the Reds look to extend an unbeaten domestic run which stretches back to the controversial defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at the end of September – but they will have to face the Cottagers without at least one very important player.

Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson will definitely miss out, with Jürgen Klopp providing a negative update on his condition ahead of the Europa League victory over LASK – and he won’t be the only player that misses out on the match at Anfield. The visitors, meanwhile, will be looking to build on a crucial 3-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend.

We’ve compiled all the latest team news and injury updates for you below, and also ventured a likely starting eleven ahead of a game which could see Liverpool go top of the table, so long as results elsewhere fall in their favour.

Goalkeeper & Defence

Alisson, statistically one of the best goalkeepers in the top flight this season, will most certainly miss out on Sunday – he has a hamstring injury which will probably keep him out of the next three Premier League matches at least, with Klopp saying he “should be kind of OK” after next weekend. That timeframe will still rule him out of the matches against Sheffield United and Crystal Palace as well. Caoimhin Kelleher will deputise between the sticks while Alisson recovers.

Andrew Robertson is the only other defender who’s expected to be out of action, with the Scottish full-back not likely to be available until towards the end of January as he recovers from a serious shoulder injury. Based on the selection decisions Klopp made for Thursday’s Europa League game, he is likely to start the same back four as played against City last weekend.

Midfield

There have been no new updates on either of Liverpool’s long-term absentees in the heart of midfield, with veteran Thiago Alcântra and rising star Stefan Bajčetić both remaining on the sidelines with hip and calf injuries respectively.

Thiago is expected back in training in the new year for what is likely to be his last stretch with the club, but no return date has yet been set for the 19-year-old Bajčetić, who underwent surgery back in March. Neither are likely to be rushed back and neither have restarted training as of yet.

Forwards

Liverpool will also be without the services of Portuguese winger Diogo Jota, who like Alisson was injured in the 1-1 draw at the Etihad last weekend. Klopp said Jota “will take a little bit longer [than Alisson] – we don’t know exactly how long, but it’s a bit more severe” – so that certainly rules the forward out for at least the next few matches.

Happily, Klopp has a clean bill of health across the rest of his forward line, with Darwin Núñez and youngster Ben Doak both fully fit have missed matches in recent weeks, while none of the front three selected against LASK – all of whom scored – are believed to have sustained any knocks.

Full predicted line-up vs. Fulham

Kelleher; Tsimikas, Van Dijk, Matip, Alexander-Arnold; Jones, Mac Allister, Szboszlai; Díaz, Núñez, Salah.