Jürgen Klopp has revealed Liverpool’s line-up for the away game against Newcastle United. The manager of the Premier League’s number nine starts again with Cody Gakpo at the point of attack, while Virgil van Dijk is positioned centrally at the back. The captain of the Dutch national team returned to the match selection last Monday in the game against Everton (2-0 win) and is now fit enough to start. Sven Botman kicks off on the side of the home team.
Botman’s base place is no surprise. The Dutchman has had an excellent season and is one of the mainstays in the back. Alexander Isak takes the striker position. The former Willem II player was injured for a long time, but recently made his comeback. Allan Saint-Maximin is also in the base. The Frenchman was a doubt due to an injury, but appears at kick-off. Van Dijk returns to the base for Liverpool. The defender has recovered sufficiently from a hamstring injury. Gakpo is posted as a left winger and must try to provide striker Darwin Núñez with useful balls.
Newcastle has a season to remember. Manager Eddie Howe’s side are fourth and hope to still hold the current virtual Champions League ticket at the end of the season. However, things haven’t been going too smoothly lately the Magpies: the last three Premier League matches were drawn. Isak played an entire game for the first time at Bournemouth (1-1) last week after a serious hamstring injury. It is a big windfall for Howe, who is struggling with the necessary headaches. Bruno Guimarães is suspended, while no fewer than seven players are injured. So Botman is there. The Dutchman almost always plays and only picked up his second yellow card of the season against Bournemouth.
It’s time to enjoy Cody Gakpo’s first Reds goal from every angle ?? Presented by @Sonos ?? pic.twitter.com/NOElgYrCm3
—Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 15, 2023
Liverpool also suffers from injuries. Arthur, Luis Díaz, Ibrahima Konaté and Thiago are in the rag basket and have to miss the game against Newcastle. Windfall for Klopp is the return of Roberto Firmino and Van Dijk. The former starts on the bench, while Van Dijk made his comeback in the match selection against Everton. The the Dutch-international did not get his minutes in that match. The other Dutchman from Liverpool, Gakpo, did participate against Everton. The wing attacker scored his first goal in the city derby the Reds. With the imminent return of Díaz – who has resumed individual training – Gakpo quickly has a formidable competitor.
Line-up Newcastle United: Pope; Trippier, Schär, Botman, Burn; Longstaff, Joelinton, Anderson; Almiron, Isak, Saint-Maximin.
Liverpool line-up: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Bajcetic; Salah, Nuñez, Gakpo.