Diogo Jota is benched for Liverpool FC’s crunch second leg tie against Real Madrid at Anfield as Jurgen Klopp resorts to his usual Firmino-Salah-Mane frontline with the Reds trialling 3-1 from the opening leg held in Madrid last week.
Klopp’s side had most recently stepped out on the pitch during a 2-1 win over Aston Villa in Premier League action over the past weekend.
Mane replaces Jota in the attacking line for the hosts
Sadio Mane had been benched for the Villa clash with the Senegal international struggling for form in front of the goals since the turn of the calendar year while Jota, despite enduring a couple of quiet showings, has been a star performer since his return from injury.
However, Klopp decides against fielding Jota for the midweek clash with Mane’s big-game experience presumed to have gone in his favour for inclusion on the starting team sheet.
Still no Thiago Alcantara amongst the XI
The Spanish international features on the bench for the third successive game as the Reds gaffer Klopp prefers to add James Milner to the midfield department alongside the familiar faces of Gini Wijnaldum and Fabinho.
It is an unchanged trio in the centre of the park from the victory against Aston Villa last time around in front of a backline that too witnesses no change with options limited at Klopp’s disposal due to the injury list at Anfield.
Here is how both sides lineup for the upcoming Champions League fixture:
Liverpool XI
🔴 𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓'𝐒 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 🔴#LIVRMA | #UCL
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 14, 2021
Real Madrid XI
📋✅ ¡Nuestro 𝗫𝗜 inicial para el partido 🆚 @LFC!@Liberbank | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/pn4VJDHcZd
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) April 14, 2021
