Advertisement

Liverpool line-ups for Wolves as Thiago Alcantara and Darwin Nunez decisions made

KIRKBY, ENGLAND - MAY 18: (THE SUN OUT. THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Thiago Alcantara and Andy Robertson of Liverpool during Jurgen Klopp's Final Liverpool Training Session at AXA Training Centre on May 18, 2024 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Thiago Alcantara and Andy Robertson during Jurgen Klopp's final Liverpool training session on Saturday -Credit:John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images


Jurgen Klopp will bring the curtain down on his glorious reign as Liverpool manager today when his team take on Wolves at Anfield on the last day of the 2023-24 Premier League season.

While the Reds can finish no higher than third in the final standings, you can bet the players and the supporters will be doing everything in their power to ensure Klopp signs off with one last victory. Standing in their way will be a Wolves side who could yet sneak into the top half of the table.

So how does the departing Liverpool manager approach the match? Rotate and give as many members of his squad a go? Or go strong with his starting line-up and go all out for the win? Klopp has hinted as much. But here's what our Reds writers believe should happen in terms of his team selection. Well, two of them...

READ MORE: Live coverage of Jurgen Klopp's final game in charge of Liverpool

READ MORE: Danke Jurgen for making us dream and making those dreams come true

Paul Gorst - Would be great to see Thiago Alcantara

So, for the final time of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool career, just how should the Reds line up today? In truth, the game is not the headline act this Sunday but a failure to win would be a disappointing way to end the season and a victory will provide some extra buoyancy to the celebrations that will follow.

The last day of the campaign always throws up one or two, shall we say ‘unusual’ scorelines, so Liverpool need to keep their professionalism today for the final 90 minutes. The beaches can wait, for now.

Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson, if fit, all start. I am also recalling Ibrahima Konate at the back.

Thiago Alcantarais back in training and it would be great to see him get a few minutes at the end but the midfield is Wataru Endo, Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott. Dominik Szoboszlai can wait in the wings.

Up top, I’m going to give Darwin Nunez the nod over Cody Gakpo. Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz also start.

My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, Mac Allister, Elliott; Salah, Nunez, Diaz.

Ian Doyle - The line-up? It really doesn't matter

Finally we make it down to the end of the yellow brick road to the final game of Liverpool's season. And, as you make have gathered, it's also the final game in charge of a certain Jurgen Norbert Klopp.

The Reds boss will have a few selection posers for the Premier League visit of Wolves, who often seem to be knocking around when the campaign comes to an end.

And you know what? With Liverpool finishing in third and the Midlanders safely in mid-table, it really doesn't matter.

Yes, Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara are both also leaving - and probably a few more before the next season starts - along with a whole host of backroom staff.

But there's one person who will be celebrated most of all, and is fully deserving of it. The father of the feast Reds supporters have devoured since he walked into the club in October 2015.

It's going to be emotional. Farewell, then, to the man who made it all happen over the last nine years.

My team (1): Klopp.

Theo Squires - Darwin Nunez can start down the middle

It’s the end of an era at Anfield as Jurgen Klopp rides off into the sunset. But first, one final game. And for Liverpool, there is absolutely nothing riding on it. So let’s let this selection be something of a thank you.

Andy Robertson is back from injury so he returns at left-back, but Joe Gomez can keep his place by moving into his favoured centre-back role. It’s the back five that won Klopp the Premier League title and lifted every honour alongside the German. It seems fitting that, while a rare sight in recent years, he can select them together one last time. if he wishes. And who knows, maybe today could even be the day the Reds' longest-serving player finally ends that elusive wait for a first senior goal!

In midfield, the in-form Harvey Elliott keeps his place with Wataru Endo in the holding role. Curtis Jones can complete the engine-room trio.

And in attack, with the most vocal Anfield behind them, Darwin Nunez can start down the middle. He’s in need of a confidence-boosting goal, so here’s hoping he can go into the summer on a high. Mohamed Salah, of course, starts on the right with the in-form Cody Gakpo completing the XI.

My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Elliott, Endo, Jones; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo.