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How powerhouse Liverpool could look with healthy stars

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

How powerhouse Liverpool could look now that stars are healthy

By William Schwartz | Last updated 3/15/24

With stars Mohamed Salah, Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold back from injuries, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is about to be faced with good problem. In the absence of healthy stars recently, Liverpool's backups played especially well – so who will be among the starting 11?

Klopp praised his players who have stepped in without Salah, telling the media, "The way we dealt without him is unbelievable."

On Thursday, the club's manager ran out a starter-laden lineup in a relatively meaningless Europa League second leg against Sparta Prague, winning 6-1. The Premier League powerhouse will have time off for an international break shortly and when it comes back, the expectation is that the team will be nearly 100% healthy.

Some of the answers regarding the starting 11 seem simple.

As well as Caoimhin Kelleher has played, Alisson should return to the full-time keeper role. And despite solid play from backup Jarell Quansah, Ibrahima Konate will be Virgil van Dijk's center back partner. Those "decisions" aren't worth discussing, but one of the most interesting questions will be on the back line, where young right back Conor Bradley has stood out.

Conor Bradley has been seriously good for Liverpool this season.

When Trent Alexander Arnold comes back from injury, does Klopp continue with him at fullback?

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In relief of Alexander-Arnold, the 20-year-old Irishman has showed off a repertoire of dynamic passing and crossers in addition to mature and solid defense.

One potential solution could be moving Alexander-Arnold to the midfield, a move that has been anticipated for years due to his blend of passing acumen and occasional defensive frailty. Klopp tried it for a bit last season, but there hasn't often been a good right back to step in. Now, he has one.

Liverpool's midfield has been on fire lately, with offseason acquisitions paying off.

Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo have been outstanding while homegrown talent Harvey Elliott is playing quite well, too. Curtis Jones regaining fitness also adds to the depth of this group, complicating matters in the best way.

The good news is that all of these players will get plenty of opportunities.

Liverpool is still alive in three major competitions – the Premier and Europa leagues and FA Cup – so Klopp must draw on his roster's depth.

For the biggest matches, though, decisions must be made for the starting lineup. The best move would probably be to slide Alexander-Arnold up to midfield alongside Endo and Mac Allister, allowing Bradley to start in the back line, but expect Klopp to stick with familiar lineups as his Liverpool tenure comes to a close.

A good projected "first choice" 11 with full health might look something like Alisson in net, Andrew Robertson, Konate, van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold in the back, Mac Allister, Endō and Jones or Dominik Szoboszlai in midfield, with a front three of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Salah.

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