Jurgen Klopp handed Stefan Bajcetic his first Premier League start for Liverpool’s match with Chelsea at Anfield on Saturday.
After the Reds’ impressive performance in the FA Cup third round replay over Wolverhampton in midweek, the 18-year-old was allowed to continue playing at the heart of midfield against the Blues.
Klopp made only three substitutions compared to the team that won in Molineux. Baysetic starts ahead of Fabinho, and Jordan Henderson also misses out on a place in midfield because of Naby Keita. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Darwin Nunez are both on the bench.
Paul Joyce of The Times says Alexander-Arnold is missing out on a starting position due to a “minor muscle injury” this week.
Alisson starts in goal after getting a break in the match against Wolverhampton.
James Milner remains in the right-back position. Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez continue to remain in the center of defense, and Andy Robertson is the only one being replaced by four defenders.
The midfield has not changed since Tuesday’s win: Baisetic and Keita have joined Thiago again.
Harvey Elliott seems to be starting the attack from the right side, as in the Wolves, and Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah make up the top three.
Fabinho, Henderson, Alexander-Arnold and Nunez were joined by players such as Joel Matip and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the bench, who also dropped out of the Reds’ previous championship match in Brighton.
Liverpool: Alisson; Milner, Konate, Gomez, Robertson; Bajcetic, Keita, Thiago; Elliott, Gakpo, Salah
Replacements: Kelleher, Matip, Alexander-Arnold, Tsimikas, Fabinho, Henderson, Jones, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Nunez
Chelsea: Arrisabalaga; Chalobah, Tiago Silva, Badiashile, Cucurella; Gallagher, Jorginho; Ziech, Gora, Hall; Havertz
Substitutes: Bettinelli, Aspilicueta, Humphries, Coulibaly, Chukwuemeka, Loftus-Cheek, Mudrik, Aubameyang, D. Fofana.
