Liverpool head to Fulham on Sunday with the expectation that they will claim three points to continue to set the pace at the top of the Premier League table.
Jurgen Klopp’s side went into the weekend lying second, behind Tottenham only on goal difference, but the defending champions had the luxury of giving their starting players a night off in midweek as they played a 1-1 Champions League draw against Midtjylland.
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Mohamed Salah controversially played the full 90 minutes, seemingly questioning Klopp’s own comments about fixture congestion, but the majority of the club’s other stars were given a well-earned rest.
As such, there will be a significant turnover in the team that plays at Craven Cottage on Sunday, with perhaps only Trent Alexander-Arnold and Fabinho retaining their spots in the starting XI.
Klopp’s side should be boosted by the return of goalkeeper Alisson Becker to the squad for the match after a slight hamstring issue. He trained on Friday, however.
Meanwhile, it is hoped that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain may also be able to feature in the panel that travels to London. The versatile 27-year-old has not played yet this season.
“The situation probably demands to involve him as soon as possible, but I don’t know if the weekend is that already. Nobody else is coming back, I’m afraid,” Klopp indicated on Friday.
As the German suggested, it is not all good news for the Reds, though. Diogo Jota and Kostas Tsimikas will both need monitored in the build up to the match.
In addition, there is no prospect of Thiago Alcantara, James Milner and Xherdan Shaqiri featuring, with the trio all sidelined due to injuries.
And of course there are the long-term concerns for Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez in the heart of the defence to consider.
The rest, however, should have done their first-pick stars much good ahead of a busy period of the season.
Liverpool predicted XI to face Fulham
Mohamed Salah 
Sadio Mané 
Jordan Henderson 
Alisson 
Diogo Jota 
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 
Liverpool 
Fulham 
