Liverpool are next up against Marseille in the Champions League with Arne Slot facing some selection posers
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot(Image: Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images)
Liverpool extended their unbeaten run to precious little fanfare with a frustrating 1-1 Premier League draw at home to Burnley on Saturday afternoon. The Reds have now avoided defeat in 12 games in all competitions but have seen their advantage in fourth place over their nearest rivals reduced to a solitary point.
Arne Slot’s side will look to take a step nearer qualification directly to the Champions League last 16 when they visit Marseille on Wednesday 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 on standby
Even a draw would leave Liverpool in a good position to qualify automatically for the knockout stages ahead of their final opening stage game at home to Qarabag on Wednesday week. And while Slot went very strong with his starting line-up against Burnley, there is scope for some rotation.
Alisson Becker, though, will be expected to remain between the sticks ahead of Giorgi Mamardashvili and Freddie Woodman.
Matters aren’t quite so clear-cut at left-back, however, with Andy Robertson having started four of six games so far in the Champions League – all of which have been won – despite having clearly fallen behind Milos Kerkez in the Premier League pecking order.
With Conor Bradley out for the season, Jeremie Frimpong is the only recognised right-back option with Calvin Ramsay ineligible for the competition. Joe Gomez and Dominik Szoboszlai are alternatives should the Dutchman need to be rested.
Gomez is also the main other option at centre-back after first-choice duo Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk, although Wataru Endo is back available. Youngster Wellity Lucky was on the bench at Inter Milan last month.
Midfield change?
Finding the right balance in midfield continues to be troublesome for Slot this season, although he has all options available to him for the trip to France and may be minded to tweak the formation accordingly having played with a diamond midfield and two number 10s during the past six weeks.
Should Liverpool stick to their regular 4-2-3-1, Alexis Mac Allister will put pressure on Curtis Jones to start alongside Ryan Gravenberch at the base of the midfield with Endo and Szoboszlai other possibilities.
Szoboszlai was back in the number 10 role against Burnley but will be vying with Florian Wirtz for the role although the Germany international is an option elsewhere.
Teenager Trey Nyoni is yet to feature in the Champions League this season but was on the bench for the last two games.
Salah decision
Much will depend on whether Mohamed Salah returns immediately to the squad following his Africa Cup of Nations duty given Liverpool’s lack of recognised alternatives on the right flank.
Wirtz featured with distinction in the role against Burnley but has more regularly been featuring on the left wing or as the number 10, while Szoboszlai began recently on the right. In any case, Salah hadn’t started any of the five games before his departure.
Cody Gakpo is the prime candidate on the left although Rio Ngumoha has featured prominently there in the last two games.
With Alexander Isak out for several months, Hugo Ekitike is the main central striker with Gakpo and Wirtz also having featured in differing manners of late. Federico Chiesa is most likely an option from the bench across the front three.
