Liverpool are next up against Manchester City in the Premier League with Arne Slot facing some selection posers
Liverpool continue to challenge strongly on several fronts after a 2-0 Champions League triumph over Real Madrid secured another impressive result under new head coach Arne Slot. Alexis Mac Allister and substitute Cody Gakpo scored the goals in the second half as the Reds maintained the 100% start to their European campaign.
Liverpool will now turn their attention to the Premier League with a visit from champions Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
And here we look ahead to the changes Slot could make when his team are next in action.
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Gomez on standby
A busy period in the season would suggest Liverpool are primed for some heavy rotation. But with City in town and almost four days having passed since the win over Real Madrid, Slot has perhaps more scope than usual to stick with the team that started in midweek.
With Alisson Becker yet to properly train with the first team, the in-form Caoimhin Kelleher is poised to remain between the sticks ahead of Vitezslav Jaros.
The ankle injury to Kostas Tsimikas means Andy Robertson is likely to continue at left-back although Joe Gomez is another option. Gomez, though, could be needed at centre-back to partner Virgil van Dijk should Ibrahima Konate be ruled out by the knock suffered in the last action of the game on Wednesday. Jarell Quansah appears to be fourth-choice in the heart of defence at present.
Conor Bradley picked up a hamstring problem towards the end of the win over Real Madrid, but Trent Alexander-Arnold may start regardless having returned to the bench in midweek.
Szoboszlai ready
Slot has increasingly chopped and changed in midfield, but the performances of Ryan Gravenberch and Mac Allister at the base of midfield and Curtis Jones as the number 10 against Real Madrid could prompt the Liverpool head coach to stick with the triumvirate against City.
Dominik Szoboszlai, who started at Southampton on Sunday, would be the most likely to return in the attacking role, with the versatility of Jones meaning he could fit into any of the three regular engine room roles.
Harvey Elliott has still to play since August but has been on the bench the last two games, while Wataru Endo, an alternative in defensive midfield, hasn’t started a Premier League game this season. Tyler Morton was on the bench against Real Madrid while teenager Trey Nyoni was with the under-19s.
Gakpo to return?
A fifth goal in six appearances for Gakpo offered a compelling case for a recall, although Luis Diaz’s impressive showings down the left – and good previous performances against City – mean he would be favourite to continue on the flank.
Diaz switched to a central role when Gakpo replaced Darwin Nunez midway through the second half on Wednesday, but it would be a big call to start with the Colombian down the middle and have Gakpo on the left on Sunday.
With Federico Chiesa still yet to make even the bench since September, Mohamed Salah will be expected to continue down the right.
