Liverpool are next up against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League with Arne Slot facing some selection posers
Liverpool’s spluttering season kept on delivering woe with Champions League defeat at Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday evening. Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia both netted as the Reds were fortunate to escape with a 2-0 loss at the Parc des Princes against the holders.
Arne Slot’s side will aim to bounce back when they look to take a step nearer qualification for the competition next season when they entertain Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday evening.
And here we look ahead to the changes Reds head coach Slot could make when his team are next in action.
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Robertson at ready
Slot surprised everyone on Wednesday with a shift to three centre-backs that ultimately made little difference in Liverpool’s efforts to prevent PSG from rampaging through them.
And it’s unlikely the Reds will persist with that approach. Plus, with the Fulham game slap bang in the middle of the two legs against the French side – don’t forget, PSG had their scheduled league game postponed to help them out – Slot is going to have to rotate pretty heavily.
Giorgi Mamardashvili will continue between the sticks given Alisson Becker remains injured. Freddie Woodman is the deputy, with Academy goalkeeper Kornel Misciur having also been on the bench in Paris.
But Andy Robertson, who last night confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the season, will challenge Milos Kerkez strongly for the starting left-back role, while Joe Gomez or Jeremie Frimpong will most likely occupy the right-back role although Curtis Jones could be another option. Dominik Szoboszlai has also played there this season but Conor Bradley is out.
Gomez is also primed to challenge either Ibrahima Konate or captain Virgil van Dijk for the centre-back position. Giovanni Leoni won’t be seen until next term.
Nyoni waits
The midfield again underwhelmed against PSG and that leaves them all up for possible movement, whether in terms of role or being rotated to the bench.
Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Jones and Szoboszlai will all compete to be in the double pivot, while Jones, Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz are contenders for the number 10 slot.
Trey Nyoni, who came off the bench on Wednesday, is still waiting for a Premier League start and seems set for further bench duty, while Wataru Endo and Stefan Bajcetic are out.
Salah return?
Up front is an area where there could be major changes given Hugo Ekitike was the only recognised forward to start against PSG.
While the Fulham game may come too soon for Alexander Isak to start, the Sweden international can expect more minutes having made his return after more than three months out in midweek as a late substitute.
Cody Gakpo would be the more likely replacement for Ekitike down the centre although Federico Chiesa is another option. Chiesa remains behind Mohamed Salah in the pecking order on the right, with the Egyptian poised to return to the starting line-up after failing to get off the bench on Wednesday.
Gakpo is also a possibility on the left although teenager Rio Ngumoha will have a strong claim to start there should Wirtz not be used in the position. Young striker Jayden Danns remains sidelined.
