Liverpool without Alisson and Joe Gomez for Burnley clash after Jurgen Klopp confirmed flu outbreak within squad
10/02/2024 16:01
Alisson and Joe Gomez have been left out of Liverpool’s team to face Burnley after a flu outbreak within the Reds’ camp.
Jurgen Klopp is without two key players as his side looks to keep their Premier League title tilt on track.
Liverpool host Burnley at Anfield on Saturday afternoon aiming to get back to winning ways after last weekend’s damaging 3-1 defeat to title rivals Arsenal.
But they will have to do it without No.1 goalkeeper Alisson and defender Gomez due to illness.
Gomez was expected to play at centre-back alongside Virgil van Dijk against the Clarets to cover for the suspended Ibrahima Konate following his sending off against the Gunners.
He has played at full-back in recent games as cover for injured duo Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas, but Robertson has returned at left-back in his first start for the Reds since October.
Instead of Gomez, 21-year-old Jarell Quansah takes the spot alongside captain Van Dik in the back-four, with No.2 Caoimhin Kelleher taking Alisson’s place in goal.
Klopp confirmed the bout of flu within the team in his pre-match press conference on Friday.
The manager said: "We have Ibou [Konate] not available [through suspension], a little bit of fighting a little bit with a flu thing in the squad, so we have to see who in the end is available so that is all not cool but in the end – we will have 11 players and we will go for it."
It’s another headache for the Liverpool boss, who is already without several key players due to injury.
Star midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai remains out having missed the Arsenal clash with a hamstring injury, while Thiago Alcantara is back on the sidelines with a fresh injury following his brief comeback against the Gunners, which lasted a mere five minutes.
Top goalscorer Mohamed Salah also remains out with the hamstring problem he suffered while at the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, but they have welcomed Wataru Endo back into the starting XI following his return from the Asian Cup with Japan.
Liverpool vs Burnley team news
Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk,
Robertson; Mac Allister, Endo, Jones; Jota, Nunez, Diaz.
Liverpool subs: Adrian, Gakpo, Elliott, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Clark, McConnell, Koumas, Mrozek.
Burnley XI: Trafford, Assignon, O’Shea, Esteve, Delcroix, Brownhill, Berge, Ramsey, Odobert, Fofana, Amdouni.
Burnley subs: Cork, Rodriguez, Benson, Ekdal, Vitinho, Cullen, Bruun Larsen, Massengo, Muric.
