Liverpool are next up against Burnley in the Premier League with Arne Slot facing some selection posers
Behold, the first international break of the season. And after a frantic deadline day at the end of a summer of overhaul for Liverpool, along with a tough start to the defence of their Premier League title, a chance to have a moment.
Arne Slot’s side moved two points clear with a third straight win by beating last season’s runners-up Arsenal at the weekend and will resume at promoted Burnley on Sunday week.
And here we look ahead to the changes Slot could make when his team are next in action.
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Gomez wait
As ever, Slot will have his fingers and just about everything else crossed that his players come back unscathed from international duty, although with Liverpool not playing until 2pm on the Sunday, there should be no fears about tiredness among the now small South American contingent in particular.
The failure to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace means Slot has four senior centre-back options between now and January.
Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate – who suffered cramp against Arsenal – remain first choice, but Joe Gomez impressed in his cameo as substitute against Arsenal and will benefit from another two weeks of training. New boy Giovanni Leoni didn’t make the bench and may have to wait for the League Cup for his debut.
At left-back. Milos Kerkez is ahead of Andy Robertson in the pecking order, while Alisson Becker is number one in goal with Giorgi Mamardashvili the next in line.
On the other flank, Slot could have Jeremie Frimpong back from a hamstring problem that has sidelined him for two games, with Conor Bradley set to benefit from minutes with Northern Ireland. Dominik Szoboszlai, who has excelled as an emergency right-back in the last fortnight, remains on standby.
Mac Allister question
Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister were reunited in midfield on Sunday, although it lasted only an hour before the latter was replaced having looked less than fully fit after recent injury concerns.
Curtis Jones could step in at the base of the engine room if required, with Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo other options.
Florian Wirtz improved notably in the second half against Arsenal as he adapts to the Premier League, although both Szoboszlai and Jones could feature in the number 10 role while Hugo Ekitike is an alternative.
Teenage midfielder Trey Nyoni hasn’t been involved in the Premier League so far this season.
Isak on the bench?
The big question will be to what extent new record signing Alexander Isak will be involved having not featured at all for Newcastle this season.
If deemed fit enough to start, Isak would be down the centre of the attack in plaec of Ekitike with Slot unlikely to alter his usual 4-2-3-1 approach immediately, although pairing Isak and Ekitike could become an option at a later date.
Ekitike would then challenge Gakpo for a place on the left, with Mohamed Salah likely to continue on the right. Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha are other attacking alternatives.
