Liverpool’s starting XI against Brentford this evening is obvious if they are without five injured players. The Reds will be without No.1 goalkeeper Alisson Becker, back-up defender Giovanni Leoni, right-back Jeremie Frimpong, defensive midfielder Ryan Gravenberch while £125million striker Alexander Isak will be on the bench at best for Arne Slot.
Gravenberch missed out on Wednesday night’s 5-1 thrashing of Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League. Liverpool ended a four-match losing streak with a comprehensive victory over in Germany with Curtis Jones coming into the midfield in Gravenberch’s place. But Frimpong and Isak’s evenings were cut short by hamstring and groin complaints. Slot has played down Isak’s issue but it will surely still prevent him from starting tonight. Express Sport names how Liverpool should line up if all five players are unavailable…
Goalkeeper: Mamardashvili
The man between the sticks picks himself – Giorgi Mamardashvili. With Alisson unlikely to return until the end of November at the earliest, the Georgian, 25, keeps his starting spot. Mamardashvili has yet to keep a 90-minute clean sheet after five appearances for Liverpool and will be eager for a first shut-out in west London.
Defence: Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson
Eintracht Frankfurt are a team who have scored 30 goals in 10 games this season. While they scored against Liverpool in midweek, the German side had just four shots in 90 minutes and only one shot on target. So why change the back four?
Bradley comes in with Frimpong injured after he played 71 minutes in Frankfurt. Otherwise, goalscorers Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk start while Andy Robertson is asked to go again. Milos Kerkez can then start against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup next Wednesday.
Midfield: Jones, Szoboszlai
Again, why change it? Curtis Jones helped add some much-needed control and composure in midfield in Europe. If Gravenberch remains a doubt with his ankle problem that stopped him travelling to Germany, Jones is the obvious starter. Dominik Szoboszlai joins him in the centre of the park after a standout display at Deutsche Bank Park.
Attack: Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
Florian Wirtz managed two assists in the Champions League win and retains his No.10 spot having started the last two Premier League games on the bench. The German needs a chance to get some rhythm and develop more understandings with his team-mates.
The big call is who starts on the right wing. After Isak’s midweek knock, top goalscorer Hugo Ekitike – with six goals in 12 games – moves to centre-forward. And with Frimpong out and Szoboszlai in midfield, that means it’s Mohamed Salah or Federico Chiesa to start on the right.
With Salah benched in Frankfurt, it’s the Egyptian who will come back into the line-up to prove he deserves to start for Slot moving forward. With Wirtz supporting Ekitike, on the left is the in-form Cody Gakpo. The Dutchman has three goals in Liverpool’s last three games and will hope to continue his streak at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Liverpool XI vs Brentford without Alisson, Leoni, Frimpong, Gravenberch, Isak: Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
