Liverpool vs Huddersfield Town. Premier League.
AnfieldAttendance53,268.
Saturday 28 October 2017 13:42, UK
Philippe Coutinho is a major doubt for Liverpool as they welcome Huddersfield to Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Brazilian is carrying an abductor problem, and Jurgen Klopp said that a decision would be made on his inclusion after training on Friday.
"Last week he had back problems. It settled with treatment, he was fit for the game, this week he had an abductor problem, it's not clear so far if he's out tomorrow. We'll make the decision after training today. He didn't train yesterday," he told a pre-match press conference.
The Reds will be looking to bounce back from a 4-1 defeat to Tottenham in the Premier League last weekend, but will face a Huddersfield side who inflicted Manchester United's first loss of the season with a 2-1 victory in their previous game.
The Anfield clash will mark the first league meeting between the two teams since a top-flight clash in February 1972 - in which Liverpool ran out 1-0 winners - as well as the first competitive meeting between good friends Klopp and David Wagner.
Alongside Coutinho, Klopp must decide whether to stick with Dejan Lovren in defence after his performance against Tottenham, but Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana and Nathaniel Clyne remain sidelined.
However, some good news for Liverpool fans is that Mane and Lallana should be back in action after the international break.
Huddersfield forward Collin Quaner is back in contention, having been sidelined since the middle of last month with a calf injury.
Fellow forward Elias Kachunga is also available after recovering from a back problem sustained in last week's win against Man Utd. Kasey Palmer (hamstring), Michael Hefele (Achilles) and Jon Gorenc Stankovic (knee) are still out.
Huddersfield are winless in all competitions versus Liverpool in 10 matches (D3 L7), a run stretching back to 1960.
Liverpool have lost only one of their last 42 Premier League home games against newly-promoted sides, losing 1-2 vs Blackpool in October 2010 (W32 D9 L1) and are unbeaten in each of the last 19.
Only three newly promoted sides have previously defeated both Liverpool and Manchester United in the same Premier League season; Bolton Wanderers in 2001-02, Manchester City in 2002-03 and Portsmouth in 2003-04 - Huddersfield could become the first side to do within the same month.
Liverpool have conceded 16 goals so far this season; their highest total after nine top-flight games since the 1964-65 campaign (20).
Aaron Mooy has had a hand in 10 league goals for Huddersfield in 2017 (four goals, six assists - including play-offs); four more than any other player.
Mohamed Salah has scored five goals in his first nine Premier League appearances for Liverpool, level with Dirk Kuyt (5) and only fewer than Robbie Fowler at this stage of his Liverpool career in the competition (6).
Simon Mignolet has made more errors leading to opposition goals (13) than any other Premier League player since his debut for Liverpool in August 2013.
I know Liverpool have struggled in these types of matches but they should win and Huddersfield's style of press may help them.
They usually press high and that would suit Mohamed Salah, Philippe Coutinho and the rest. Premier League teams can pop it around you and all of a sudden that opens up space for the Liverpool forwards.
If David Wagner changes it up and sticks with the half-press they used against United then it could be a different story. They waited until United got to the halfway line and then rushed in. They did well and that would frustrate Liverpool.
I just think as the game goes on Jurgen Klopp has too many star players.
Paul predicts: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)
Liverpool are 2/9 to get back to winning ways when they host Huddersfield on Saturday afternoon.
The Terriers are 12/1 to add Liverpool to Manchester United on their list of scalps, while it's 5/1 to end all square. Daniel Sturridge and Roberto Firmino are both 3/1 in the first goalscorer betting while it's double-figure prices and up for Huddersfield with Steve Mounie considered the likeliest deadlock-breaker at 10/1.
