Liverpool line-up against Sheffield United

8:30am on Saturday 27th February 2021
By Team FC

Liverpool travel to Bramall Lane on Sunday evening as Jurgen Klopp's charges aim to bounce back from a first Merseyside Derby defeat in over a decade when they take on Sheffield United.

The reigning Premier League champions have been enduring a torrid time of late, losing four top-flight home games in a row for the first time since 1923.

A trip to South Yorkshire may be a welcome respite for the Anfield outfit then, and Klopp will be desperate to get his side back on track after falling out of the Champions League places in recent weeks.

There's no sign of Liverpool's luck changing anytime soon, though. Club-captain Jordan Henderson has been ruled out until April after picking up a groin injury, adding to their already lengthy injury list.

The 30-year-old midfielder joins the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez, Fabinho, Diogo Jota and Naby Keita on the sidelines in what has been a season plagued by fitness concerns for a large portion of Liverpool's first-team stars.

Alisson has made multiple mistakes during 2020/21, but his world-class quality is still indisputable. The Brazilian shot-stopper received some tragic personal news this week and could be given some time off away from the spotlight as a result.

That means Caoimhin Kelleher may be in line to make his third Premier League start of the season after the 22-year-old displaced Adrian as the club's number 2 keeper.

An already patched-up back four will need more emergency surgery over the weekend. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson are likely to line up either side of January signings Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies.

Former Barcelona and Bayern Munich man Thiago is set to retain his place at the base of the Liverpool midfield, with Gini Wijnaldum and Curtis Jones occupying the other central positions.

A familiar trio of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino will almost certainly lead the line on Sunday, and Klopp needs his famed front three to step up more than ever for this upcoming clash with Sheffield United.