Confirmed: Key man dropped - Liverpool starting XI to face Manchester United at Old Trafford

Liverpool have confirmed their starting XI to face Manchester United at Old Trafford this evening as the Reds look to catch Chelsea in the Premier League table.

Chelsea were beaten 1-0 by Arsenal on Wednesday evening which has come as a huge boost to both West Ham and Liverpool. Both sides are in the hunt for Champions League football.

The Hammers are a point above the Reds in the table but Jurgen Klopp's side has a game in hand over them. If Liverpool are able to beat United this evening, they will leapfrog David Moyes' men and go within four points of Chelsea.

The Anfield outfit will still have a game in hand over the Blues and Leicester City heading into the penultimate gameweek of the season.

In the build-up to this evening's kick-off, Klopp's team selection was the subject of much debate, with Fabinho's role in the side key. In 2021, the Brazilian has started just four games in his preferred holding midfield role - they've won each game.

Klopp confirmed on Wednesday that Ozan Kabak, James Milner, Naby Keita and Ben Davies were all going to be absent for the United clash which meant that the German would need to choose between starting Rhys Williams at centre-back or starting Fabinho at the heart of defence again.

Mane is surprisingly left on the bench while Jota and Firmino start together with Salah but Fabinho does start in midfield.

Starting XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, R Williams, Phillips, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Thiago, Jota, Firmino, Salah.

Subs: Adrian, Kelleher, Mane, Jones, Tsimikas, Shaqiri, Origi, Woodburn, N Williams.