Injuries, defeats, but Klopp finds reason to smile ahead of Rangers game

In the dullest moment in years, Liverpool visit Rangers this Wednesday (2:00 p.m.) in Champions League Group A. They do so without Luis Diaz, one of their key players, injured and absent until mid-April due to a left knee injury. And that's not the only setback: defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold (ankle injury) and Joel Matip (calf problem) will be out for two to three weeks and will be joined by Arthur Melo, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and Andy Robertson.

The good news is that Andy Robertson and Curtis Jones could reappear. It comes at a time when Liverpool are tenth in the Premier League and still need to gain confidence in their Champions League group, awaiting a Napoli slip-up against Ajax and hoping for a win against Alfredo Morelos's Rangers of Scotland, bottom of the table with no points. Diogo Jota is expected to simply play in his traditional position, the one which, according to Transfermarkt, has given him an impressive 43 goals and 24 assists in 144 appearances.

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But Klopp could also surprise with Nunez playing on the wing to open up space for Firmino in the middle and perhaps Jota as a finisher. On what basis? On 571 minutes of the Uruguayan, with 11 goals and two assists playing in that position for Diaz. It would be crazy, but not impossible. The other natural options would be Fabio Carvalho or Curtis Jones, although the former hasn't given the best results and the latter is only just back from injury.

In any case, he needs to take a risk against a less demanding opponent, who in the preview does not seem to be betting on the Colombian Morelos from the start, but who has very little to lose in this Champions League and could take advantage of the nerves of the Reds and their bewilderment. Life begins after Diaz at Liverpool. For everyone's sake, let's hope it goes well.

<strong>Likely line-ups</strong>

Rangers: McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Davies, Barišić; Tillman, Davis, Lundstram; Sakala, Čolak, KentDown: Lawrence (knee), Souttar (ankle)Doubts: noneExpected suspension: LundstramLiverpool: Alisson; Gomez, Konaté, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Henderson, Thiago Alcántara; Salah, Firmino, Carvalho; Darwin NúñezDoubts: Alexander-Arnold (ankle), Luis Díaz (knee), Matip (calf), Arthur (quadriceps)Doubts: Jones (calf), Robertson (knee)Stadium: Ibrox Stadium