How could Liverpool line up against Maribor in Champions League clash?

Liverpool will have the chance to kick-start their stuttering Champions League campaign on Tuesday night when they travel to face Slovenian champions NK Maribor.

Jurgen Klopp’s side dominated their opening Group E games against Sevilla and Spartak Moscow but could only draw both, damaging their hopes of qualifying as group winners.

Maribor, meanwhile, are bottom of the group, having drawn 1-1 with Spartak and lost 3-0 in Sevilla. They have not won a group stage game since September 1999.

Klopp suggested that, despite a Premier League visit to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, Liverpool would name a strong side for the meeting at the Stadion Ljudski vrt.

The should-bes

Loris Karius is Klopp’s ‘European’ goalkeeper this season and will start in goal in Maribor, despite conceding softly from a free-kick by Spartak Moscow’s Fernando in Liverpool’s last Champions League outing.

Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip did well in the drab draw with Manchester United at the weekend and, provided Lovren’s back issues do not flare up again, should retain their places in the centre of defence.

Alberto Moreno enjoyed one of his best displays in recent memory at Anfield on Saturday and should have enough to see off the challenge of Andrew Robertson at left-back.

With Sadio Mané out, Klopp’s front six almost selects itself. Jordan Henderson should skipper the side, with Georginio Wijnaldum also lining up in midfield. Emre Can has made costly mistakes in each of Liverpool’s group games so far but is still likely to start again.

Philippe Coutinho scored his side’s equaliser in Moscow and will fill in for Mané on the left-hand side of Klopp’s front three, with Mohamed Salah out on the right. Roberto Firmino is likelier to start up front than Daniel Sturridge.

The could-bes

Joe Gomez acquitted himself well on Saturday but the England Under-21s international has been rotated with fellow youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold in recent weeks, with neither nailing the right-back berth down.

James Milner may feature at some point though is unlikely to play from the off. The same can be said for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who provided a promising cameo against United at Anfield.

“I would say there has been no consistency until now,” Klopp said of Oxlade-Chamberlain on Monday. “We let him run so far, let him do what he is naturally good at and it will take time but it's all good. He is obviously powerful and that is what we need.”

Prediction

Liverpool’s predicted XI to play Maribor: Karius; Gomez, Matip, Lovren, Moreno; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Can; Salah, Firmino, Coutinho.