Jurgen Klopp faces Naby Keita decision as Liverpool unleash new front three

With the March international break in sight, Liverpool are very nearly at the end of a gruelling run of fixtures that has seen them play 13 matches in just six weeks. Keeping their quadruple hopes alive, they have narrowed the gap on Man City in the title-race to just a point, progressed to the Champions League quarter-finals and won the League Cup.

Now a place in the FA Cup semi-finals is up for grabs as the Reds travel to Nottingham Forest, And having named arguably his strongest XI away at Arsenal on Wednesday night, other than Mohamed Salah who was utilised as a substitute after injury, Jurgen Klopp is certain to rotate.

And with a number of senior players short on minutes in recent weeks, we take a look at who the German could turn to as Liverpool look to book a second trip to Wembley of the season.

Having been the hero for the Reds’ Carabao Cup final over Chelsea last month, Caoimhin Kelleher sat out Liverpool’s next game as they faced Norwich City in the previous round of the FA Cup. However, the young Irishman is pretty nailed all to start against Forest as Klopp rotates his entire backline.

James Milner and Kostas Tsimikas both missed the trip to Arsenal through illness but will hopefully be fit to return to face the Championship outfit. If not, the likes of Conor Bradley and Owen Beck will be on standby.

Meanwhile, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez are likely to start at centre-back in place of Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk, who are both handed a well-earned rest.

Experience or youth?

Jordan Henderson started as the holding midfielder in the last round against the Canaries, and could fulfil such a role again, with Fabinho handed a breather ahead of international duty with Brazil. However, expect a couple of changes in midfield.

Thiago Alcantara is also likely to drop out, leaving it between a choice of four players to start either side of the captain as Klopp debates whether to select youth or experience or a mixture of the two.

Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones will both be knocking on the door, but the German has tended to opt for the more experienced duo of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita. Able to make five substitutions in FA Cup matches, there will still be plenty of minutes for whichever duo miss out.

Takumi Minamino was the hero against Norwich, scoring a brace to take Liverpool through to the quarter-finals, and has loved the domestic cups so far this season. From his nine goals, seven have come in either the League Cup or FA Cup with him top-scoring for the Reds in both competitions.

He’ll look to maintain that record against Forest, with Divock Origi also coming in alongside him as the duo look to make the most of a rare start. Meanwhile, having returned with a goal against Arsenal in midweek after injury, Roberto Firmino starts down the middle before enjoying a relaxing international break having again been left out of the Brazil squad.

Predicted Liverpool starting XI (4-3-3): Kelleher; Milner, Konate, Gomez, Tsimikas; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Henderson, Keita; Minamino, Firmino, Origi