How Liverpool could line up against RB Leipzig

Liverpool will be hoping that the return of the Champions League brings with it a distraction from their domestic form when they face RB Leipzig in the first leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday.

The first ever meeting between the two clubs will take place at the Puskas Arena in Budapest due to coronavirus restrictions, and Liverpool will arrive on the back of three successive defeats.

With their Premier League title defence now in tatters, the Champions League represents their last realistic route to silverware this season, but they take on a Leipzig side in fine form with four successive wins in all competitions.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Jurgen Klopp could line his side up for the contest.

Out: Virgil van Dijk (knee), Joe Gomez (knee), Joel Matip (ankle), Diogo Jota (knee), James Milner (hamstring), Caoimhin Kelleher (knock), Naby Keita (muscle), Fabinho (muscle) Doubtful: Ben Davies (knock), Divock Origi (hamstring)

> Click here for Liverpool's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

Klopp could be without as many as 10 first-team players for this first leg, with their injury crisis deepening significantly within the past week.

Fabinho was ruled out of the defeat to Leicester City on Saturday after picking up a "little muscle injury", and he will need to be assessed ahead of the trip to Budapest to determine whether he is ready to return.

The nature of muscle injuries, coupled with the quick turnaround in fixtures and the fact that he missed training again on Monday, means that he remains a major doubt, which could see Ozan Kabak partner Jordan Henderson at centre-back again.

Nathaniel Phillips is now an option in the Champions League after being added to Liverpool's squad, but otherwise centre-back options are very slim, with new arrival Ben Davies picking up a knock in training which makes him a doubt for this one.

Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all remain sidelined for the long term, while this match is also expected to come too soon for Diogo Jota, Caoimhin Kelleher and James Milner, the latter of whom limped off against Leicester on Saturday.

Thiago Alcantara should return to the starting XI in Milner's place, while Klopp will keep faith with Alisson Becker despite another mistake at the weekend.

There are other midfield options available should Klopp look to shake things up, with Xherdan Shaqiri and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain among those knocking on the door, but Naby Keita will miss out against his former club despite now being back in training after almost two months out.

Divock Origi and Davies also returned to training on Monday and so could be involved, while Keita could be in contention for the Merseyside derby at the weekend.