Having secured both passage into the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League and top spot in Group D, Liverpool travels to Midtjylland in an advantageous position to rest players ahead of the busy winter period in the Premier League.
Liverpool’s injury issues this season have been well documented and any opportunity to rest some starters will be given a warm welcome from Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool is scheduled to play six games in the next 22 days, a tough ask for any side and Jurgen Klopp admitted naming a young line-up on Wednesday evening is possible.
“We will see. You are right, it’s the first time we don’t have to get a result in the last match of the group stage, the first time we are first in the table already.
“We have to consider the general situation, that’s clear, but we have to consider as well it’s Champions League, we are Liverpool, and we want to win the game. All these kinds of things will lead in the end to a line-up.”
Upside for Liverpool
A positive for Liverpool has been the return of some players from injury with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Naby Keita making their respective returns in the 4-0 win over Wolves on Sunday.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who hasn’t featured this season due to injury made his return to training this week, another addition which will bolster Klopp’s side this winter.
Even without Virgil Van Dijk playing a second in the Champions League this season, Liverpool has kept four clean sheets in five games and have conceded just two goals, only Manchester City (1) have conceded less.
Liverpool’s young players have massively stepped up when they were needed which contributes to the impressive defensive record Liverpool have amassed after losing Van Dijk and Joe Gomez.
Klopp paid praise to his youngsters for taking their opportunity and performing valiantly in both the Premier League and Champions League.
“We don’t have to say it any differently, we had some problems injury-wise, that’s clear. We lost top, top, top, top-class players to injuries. But, of course, one door closes, and another opens up.
“What Rhys Williams did so far in the Champions League is exceptional. What Nat Phillips did when he played in the Premier League was absolutely exceptional. Neco played now two really good games in a row, especially the last one was really good. Curtis plays like he played already 10 years for us.”
Despite Midtjylland sitting top of the Danish Superliga, they haven’t carried across the same form in Europe as they sit bottom of Group D yet to win a game.
Even with Liverpool’s expected rotation, I believe they defeat the Danish side 3-0 with Diogo Jota to net after being dropped against former club Wolves on the weekend.
Odds on a Midtjylland home win open at +300. Odds on a Liverpool win open at -120. Odds on a draw between the two sides open at +280.
