Premier League pace-setters Liverpool take on Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday looking to ensure that their lead at the top remains at least six points prior to next weekend's showdown with main title rivals Manchester City.
Jurgen Klopp's side have dropped just two points from their opening 10 games so far this season to take an early commanding lead at the top, but any slip-up against the newly-promoted Villans could open the door for Man City when they visit Anfield on November 10.
The Reds go into this weekend's match off the back of a chaotic 5-5 draw with Arsenal in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night, a remarkable contest which eventually ended with Liverpool winning on penalties to reach the quarter-finals - where incidentally they will face Villa.
Here, Sports Mole looks at how Klopp could line his side up against a Villa team that has lost just one of their last six games across all competitions.
Out: Joel Matip (knee), Xherdan Shaqiri (calf), Nathaniel Clyne (knee)
Doubtful: Mohamed Salah (ankle), Virgil van Dijk (dead leg), Naby Keita (hamstring)
> Click here for Liverpool's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match
Klopp made the full 11 changes for Wednesday's bonkers EFL Cup goal-fest, and the XI for this match is likely to be entirely changed once again as a number of first-teamers return.
Salah and Van Dijk picked up knocks against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, but their midweek absence was down to rotation rather than injury and both will be fine to feature at Villa Park.
The centre-back spot alongside Van Dijk is up for grabs due to Joel Matip's injury, which is more serious than first thought and could not keep the Cameroonian out of action until December.
Dejan Lovren appears to be slightly above Joe Gomez in the pecking order at the moment, and his absence from the squad on Wednesday - when Gomez played the full 90 minutes - hints that he will come back into the side for this one.
Captain Jordan Henderson is another who is likely to return alongside Fabinho and Georginio Wijnaldum, a trio Klopp regards as his first-choice midfield unit at the moment.
The prospect of Man City on the horizon does raise the slight possibility of Klopp resting players again, although the opportunity to do that in the EFL Cup means that he is more likely to wait until Tuesday's home tie with Genk in the Champions League.
Barney Corkhill
