Liverpool vs Brighton squad: Who tops the line without Darwin Nunez? – Liverpool FC

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With Darwin Nunez expected to miss Liverpool’s trip to Brighton, it looks like choosing a player to lead the line will be the biggest call Jurgen Klopp faces when choosing his squad on Saturday.

On Thursday, news emerged that the Uruguayan had missed a number of training sessions this week and there was a suspicion against Roberto De Zerbi’s side.

Klopp confirmed this in his pre-match press conference on Friday, and was apparently reluctant to give a time frame for his return.

Nunez’s injury means Liverpool are now left with only two options for their top attackers, with Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino also in the treatment room.

So as Liverpool prepare to take on in-form Brighton this weekend, how can the Reds line up?

Team news

From Klopp’s pre-match press conference on Friday, we know the following:

Liverpool lineup vs Brighton

With Virgil van Dijk also still sidelined, it seems unlikely that Liverpool will move away from the four defenders they faced Wolves last week, while Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Thiago can continue in midfield.

But with no Nunez, Firmino or Jota on hand, Klopp will have to use a temporary option in attack, with Salah and Jacopo likely contenders.

Salah could be the better option, in order to allow Jacobo more time to acclimatize in his favored position on the left flank, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back in the line-up.

Here’s how the Reds can line up Salah in a central position.

The same defense and midfield that faced Wolves Oxlade-Chamberlain favored the injured Núñez Jacpo on the left, with Salah leading the line.

If this is Klopp’s change, this would be Liverpool’s line-up:

Allison. Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Konate, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gakbo, Salah

One player who could be in the starting frame is Naby Keita, who was certainly one of Liverpool’s best performers when he came off the bench in recent weeks. If he were to play, he might be more likely to give way to Henderson.

Much was said of Gakpo’s versatility when he arrived from PSV at the start of the month, and Klopp could be happy to use him in a central role at Amex on Saturday.

If that’s what the Liverpool boss decides, the squad could look like this:

Keita replaces Henderson in the Oxlade midfield – Oxlade-Chamberlain returns to the left wing Salah on the right and Jackpo up top

That would see Liverpool line up as follows:

Allison. Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Konate, Robertson; Fabinho, Keita, Thiago; Wrong, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gakpo

Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho will also be in contention for a place, but given Oxlade-Chamberlain’s goal and encouraging performance against Brentford he is certainly likely to replace Nunez.

After another disappointing performance against Wolves, Liverpool travel to the south coast knowing that above all else, they need to find a way to get three points on Saturday.

This, against a Brighton side going from strength to strength under Roberto De Zerbi, looks like a huge undertaking, and it certainly isn’t made easier by the ever-growing list of injuries.

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