Arne Slot faces at least two big decisions over his starting lineup as Liverpool prepare to host Man United – not least which of Alexander Isak or Hugo Ekitike will play up front.
With the Reds on a run of three defeats, it is imperative that they secure victory at Anfield on Sunday evening.
That will have to be at the expense of their historic rival Man United, who are still struggling this season and go to Merseyside, where they are tenth in the Premier League.
Thanks to a productive international break for many of his players – with ten goals and five assists among those called up – Slot is expected to make changes following the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea.
But who will start against Man United?
Team news: Good news about Konate and Gravenberch
We know the following about Slot’s available team:
• Ibrahima Konate And Ryan Gravenberch are in training and available
• Alisson, Giovanni Leoni, Stefan Bajcetic And Jayden dance are out
• Wataru Endo is a doubt after missing Japan’s friendlies
Liverpool’s XI against Man United
With Konate and Gravenberch fit and Alisson ruled out, the majority of Slot’s starting line-up for Sunday’s 4.30pm kick-off will be fairly simple.
It means that Virgil van Dijk will have his regular partner at center back, Giorgi Mamardashvili will start in goal and Gravenberch will take his usual position as number 6.
There are also a handful of almost guaranteed picks in Dominik Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo.
There is less clarity on who will start at right back or up front, but the most likely starters appear to be Conor Bradley and Ekitike.
Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; nice
Slot spoke at length during his pre-match press conference about Isak’s journey to full fitness and his belief that the number 9’s ‘pre-season may be over’.
The fact that he played 90 minutes in both of Sweden’s World Cup qualifiers at the break makes it even more realistic that Ekitike – who clocked just seven minutes in France’s most recent match – is selected up front.
But the head coach could turn to Isak as his centre-forward against United, along with a summer signing at right-back in Jeremy Frimpong.
Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Conate, Van Dijk, Question; Szosslai, Gravenberch; Salah, Wirtz, Gacpo; III
There is more room for rotation, with the likes of Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa rested during the break and Andy Robertson and Alexis Mac Allister both credible options to start.
But it is more likely that Slot will choose his strongest possible side for such a high-profile match, with those players instead taking their place among an experienced group of substitutes.
It means that Liverpool, despite the absences of Alisson, Leoni and possibly Endo, should have enough depth to return in style against United.
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