LIVERPOOL, Sporting Alert – Some very interesting team news coming out of Anfield for today’s Merseyside derby, and it involves Liverpool.
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Manager Jurgen Klopp makes five changes from the team which beat Brighton 5-1 last weekend, but the storyline is in form forward Philippe Coutinho is only on the bench.
Coutinho captained and scored a hat-trick against Spartak Moscow in the Champions League in midweek and was expected to start again.
However, Klopp has opted to leave the Brazilian international on the bench for this one.
“We had to make a few changes,” Klopp tells Sky Sports.
?Today's #LFC side to face @Everton… https://t.co/DdPpcB9UZ8 pic.twitter.com/xGA0CvFkTy
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 10, 2017
Interestingly, there is also no place in the team for Roberto Firmino and former Liverpool center-back Jamie Carragher believes Reds fans will be disappointed, but opposition manager Sam Allardyce and Everton supporters will be happy.
“There’s no doubt that when this Liverpool team sheet comes in, Liverpool fans will be disappointed, and Sam Allardyce and Everton will be happy,” Carragher said.
“I’m sure Holgate and Williams will be delighted it’s Solanke up front and not Firmino.”
Georginio Wijnaldum, Emre Can and Trent Alexander-Arnold also make way.
Coming in are Joe Gomez, Ragnar Klavan, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sadio Mane and young forward Dominic Solanke.
Captain Jordan Henderson starts alongside James Milner in midfield.
? | Team news is in for the 229th Merseyside derby… COYB! #EFC pic.twitter.com/Tkjc0W7xV7
— Everton (@Everton) December 10, 2017
For Everton, Allardyce makes just the one adjustment to the team that won 2-0 against Huddersfield.
The lone change sees Oumar Niasse replacing Aaron Lennon, while captain Wayne Rooney starts in midfield.
Morgan Schneiderlin, Michael Keane, Phil Jagielka and Ademola Lookman are all on the bench for Everton.
LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS
Team to play Everton: Mignolet, Gomez, Klavan, Lovren, Robertson, Henderson, Milner, Mane, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Salah, Solanke. Subs: Karius, Wijnaldum, Coutinho, Firmino, Can, Ings, Alexander-Arnold
EVERTON TEAM NEWS
Team to play Liverpool: Pickford, Kenny, Holgate, Williams, Cuco Martina, Gueye, Calvert-Lewin, Davies, Sigurdsson, Rooney, Niasse. Subs: Robles, Schneiderlin, Keane, Jagielka, Lennon, Vlasic, Lookman
