Mohamed Salah on bench and Divock Origi absence explained as Liverpool make five changes

Mohamed Salah has been rested to the bench with Jurgen Klopp having rotated heavily for today’s clash at Newcastle United

Salah is replaced by Diogo Jota in a remoulded attack as one of five changes for the Premier League clash at St James’ Park. Jota is expected to line up on the left, with Luis Diaz switching to the right and Sadio Mane remaining down the middle.

In midfield, James Milner has been handed his first Premier League start since the 2-2 draw at Chelsea on January 2.

The 36-year-old is joined in the engine room by skipper Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita, with both Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara having dropped to the bench.

And there are two alterations in defence with Joe Gomez replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back and Joel Matip in for Ibrahima Konate as partner to Virgil van Dijk at centre-back. Andy Robertson stays at left-back with Alisson Becker in goal.

Divock Origi is absent through illness not associated with coronavirus. Both Curtis Jones and Kostas Tsimikas are back among the substitutes.

Alisson, Gomez, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Milner, Keita, Mane, Jota, Diaz.

Kelleher, Fabinho, Konate, Thiago, Salah, Jones, Tsimikas, Alexander-Arnold, Elliott.

: Dubravka, Krafth, Schar, Burn, Targett, Bruno Guimaraes, Shelvey, Willock, Almiron, Joelinton, Saint-Maximin.