Jota to earn a start? How Liverpool could line up versus Aston Villa
It's been an extremely busy week for Liverpool, facing Arsenal twice, once in the league on Monday and again in the Carabao Cup on Thursday.
Jurgen Klopp shuffled his pack extensively for the latter and we can expect a number of first-teamers to return for the trip to in-form Aston Villa.
Alisson had been carrying an injury but was fit for the Monday night match and will play again here, with the back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Virgil Van Dijk and Andrew Robertson all expected to be in place. Joel Matip and new signing Kostas Tsimikas are both out.
Jordan Henderson will be touch-and-go for the match and will likely start from the bench, with the effective midfield trio of Fabinho, Georginio Wijnaldum and Naby Keita likely to feature. Thiago has a continued mandatory absence due to a positive covid-19 test, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a long-term concern.
Up front Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino will play but the news that Sadio Mane has tested positive for covid-19 and is currently self-isolating means that Diogo Jota could earn his first league start for the Reds.