Liverpool boss Arne Slot has a host of decisions to make as he bids to avoid five consecutive defeats, with a trip to Eintracht Frankfurt up next for the Reds. They kickstarted their Champions League campaign with a chaotic 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid, but fell 1-0 away to Galatasaray in the midst of their worst run under the Dutch head coach.
He will have to make do without Ryan Gravenberch, who was absent for the open section of team training on Merseyside before the team travelled to Germany without him. There have also been calls to drop Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak after their disappointing form in the past few weeks. Here, Express Sport takes a look at who we think should start against the Bundesliga giants…
Charlie Malam
The out-of-form Milos Kerkez, Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah all need to be dropped. Andy Robertson, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa replace them. Jones, Chiesa and Florian Wirtz all deserve a chance to start after impressive bench cameos of late.
With Ryan Gravenberch injured, Jones acts as the deepest-lying midfielder with Dominik Szoboszlai and Wirtz providing the legs in front of him. In defence, Joe Gomez needs minutes so replaces Ibrahima Konate. Jeremie Frimpong is another worthy of a start.
I’d be deploying a 4-3-3 where Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak can interchange positions, but with Ekitike starting through the middle because of his link-up play. Then try and get Chiesa and Isak making runs beyond him, Firmino-Mane-Salah style.
Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Jones, Wirtz; Chiesa, Ekitike, Isak
Archie Griggs
Eintracht Frankfurt have conceded plenty of goals so far this season and Arne Slot might try to capitalise on that by fielding a top-heavy side.
Florian Wirtz will have high hopes of ending his scoring drought if he plays behind Hugo Ekitike, who will be out to impress against his former club. Alexander Isak struggled on the weekend and could be consigned to a place on the bench.
Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai could start in the engine room with Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister rested. Milos Kerkez has endured a tough start to his Liverpool career and Andy Robertson might be given the chance to put his case forward at left-back.
The Reds desperately need a win to stop the rot and will stand a great chance if they can get an early goal this evening.
Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
Jack McEachen
He won’t like it, but Mohamed Salah needs to come out of the starting lineup. Whether it’s to give the Egyptian a rest or to light the fire in his belly, he has looked a shadow of his former self this season.
Federico Chiesa has performed well off the bench this year, picking up an assist against Manchester United on Sunday, and deserves a chance to show what he can do from the first minute.
The departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold has been tougher than many perhaps expected, but Curtis Jones’ creativity from deep will go some way to helping, and perhaps Chiesa’s inclusion will benefit Jeremie Frimpong as the Italian provides more defensive protection.
Perhaps playing against German opposition will remind Florian Wirtz that he is a player worthy of a £116million price tag.
Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Szoboszlai; Chiesa, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike