A look at how Liverpool could line up when they are hosted by Wolves at Molinuex on Saturday
Having only made minor tweaks to his Liverpool teams so far, Arne Slot went for as many as nine changes for Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup smiting of West Ham United. Only Darwin Nunez kept his place as an outfield player from Saturday’s 3-0 win over Bournemouth and the changes worked a charm for Slot as the Reds put their visitors to the sword with a 5-1 victory.
With Premier League action on the horizon once more, when Wolves are visited on Saturday evening, Slot is expected to make the changes once more.
But who has done enough to keep their place for the trip to Molineux? That is the healthy question for the head coach to wrestle with.
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Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo will be two of those who will feel they have serious claims. Both were excellent on the night against the Hammers, scoring a brace apiece either side of Mohamed Salah‘s fourth goal of the campaign.
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Gakpo has looked sharp this season and has rewarded Slot with two man-of-the-match-worthy displays against AC Milan and West Ham in his two starts to date. The Netherlands international looks much more at home on the left of the front three, where he enjoyed a positive European Championship for semi-finalists Oranje.
Gakpo’s problem, however, is the form of top-scorer Luis Diaz. The Colombia international has been electric so far this term, registering five goals and generally looking like a player with a point to prove after speculation over his own future and that of Newcastle’s left-winger Anthony Gordon.
Slot will have to make a call on that one but with both wide forwards in such good form of late, it is a major dilemma but a welcome headache, nonetheless.
Curtis Jones also gave Slot some food for thought with his performance and it will be interesting to see if he keeps his place as a more advanced midfielder after assisting Jota with a superb piece of play in the second half to make it 2-1. Dominik Szoboszlai could be in line for a recall to that attacking midfield role, however.
Salah is expected to return in place of Federico Chiesa but the decision of Jota or Darwin Nunez is another genuine issue for Slot to wrestle with. It seems harsh to leave out Jota after his ice-cool brace but Nunez is also starting to get into his groove after a stunning goal against Bournemouth was followed up by an industrious display on Wednesday.
Ryan Gravenberch, who was given the night off against West Ham, will likely be recalled alongside Alexis Mac Allister, who oozed class off the bench in midweek. Both midfielders have started in excellent form, particularly Gravenberch, who has been a revelation so far in a deeper position.
At the back, wholesale changes are expected with Ibrahima Konate, Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold all set to return. As a unit they have only conceded one goal this term – Callum Hudson-Odoi’s winner against Nottingham Forest.
Caoimhin Kelleher, meanwhile, will keep his place if Alisson Becker still has fitness concerns. Slot will update on the Brazil international when he meets the media for his pre-match press conference on Friday at the AXA Training Centre.
Ireland international Kelleher has been outstanding since Alisson has been sidelined.
