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Liverpool team news vs Napoli: Predicted line up – Mane update, Salah and Lovren decisions
LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp is expected to recall Sadio Mane when the Reds take on Napoli in their crunch Champions League clash with Napoli tonight (8pm).
Liverpool have been boosted by the return to fitness of Sadio Mane ahead of their final Champions League group stage match against Napoli.
The Reds take on their Italian opponents at Anfield needing to win 1-0 or by two clear goals in order to progress to the knockout stages.
Manager Jurgen Klopp will be pleased to have Senegalese winger Mane available once more after suffering a nasty cut to his foot last week.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Klopp said: “Sadio can deal with the pain obviously – it looked like that in Bournemouth, so that’s cool.
“It’s good enough that we can consider him at least.
“In the squad there is nothing really serious after the [Bournemouth] game, that’s good.”
Mane missed the 3-1 win over Burnley due to his injury but featured off the bench as Liverpool ran riot against the Cherries at the weekend.
Mane is likely to come straight back into the Reds starting XI alongside Mohamed Salah, who scored a hat-trick at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
However, Klopp has a decision to make regarding the Egyptian with the 4-0 win achieved by playing Salah up front in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
The German boss has preferred to utilise a more compact 4-3-3 in big games this season, but such a shape would see Salah shunted out wide and Roberto Firmino deployed through the middle.
Meanwhile, Klopp must also make a call over which of Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren will partner Virgil van Dijk at centre-back.
Injury to Joe Gomez has ruled the 21-year-old out for six to nine months while Lovren has also been sidelined with concussion in recent weeks.
Matip has been deputising ably in the pair’s absence but Klopp may be tempted to reinstate Lovren with the Croatian nearing a return to full fitness.
Elsewhere, Adam Lallana suffered a nasty cut to the head against Bournemouth but has no lasting effects while Nathaniel Clyne is doubtful and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is still out with a serious knee problem.
Jordan Henderson is expected to return in central midfield while Fabinho, Georginio Wijnaldum, James Milner and Naby Keita are also battling for a starting spot.
Finally, Trent Alexander-Arnold should come back in at right-back after being rested last weekend.
Liverpool predicted line-up vs Napoli – Champions League
(4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Milner; Salah, Mane, Firmino