Jordan Henderson is slotted into central defence in the wake of the ever-increasing number of defensive casualties for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool FC as the Merseysiders take on Southampton in the Premier League.
The latest of injury setbacks for Joel Matip means that Klopp has been forced to turn to his skipper to play at the heart of the Reds backline alongside Fabinho, both midfielders deputising as makeshift centre-backs for the defending champions.
Henderson’s exclusion from the midfield three means that a first start of the 2020-21 season is awarded to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, with Curtis Jones dropping down to the bench after a poor run of form endured by the otherwise highly-promising Scouser.
Thiago Alcantara too is handed a start, merely a week after his much-anticipated return to on-field action for Liverpool FC, a hamstring injury curtailing the Spaniard from making a major impact since his move to Anfield last summer.
All rotations from last week’s stalemate against Newcastle United are evident in the centre of the park for Klopp’s side, with Gini Wijnaldum being drafted back into the starting eleven for today’s game in place of James Milner.
Here is how both sides lineup for the upcoming Premier League fixture:
Southampton FC XI
⚠️ TEAM NEWS ⚠️
How #SaintsFC will line-up for the first time in 2021: pic.twitter.com/gBJlxFEsPe
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) January 4, 2021
Liverpool FC XI
🔴 #SOULIV TEAM NEWS 🔴
Three changes for the Reds, as @Thiago6, @Alex_OxChambo and @GWijnaldum come in to the starting XI 👊
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 4, 2021
