The worldwide break has been comparatively form to Liverpool because it has given a few of Arne Slot‘s harm absentees time to recuperate and return to coaching.
With video games in opposition to Actual Madrid and Man Metropolis, adopted by Newcastle and Everton, Liverpool have a troublesome couple of weeks forward.
Because the Reds know, although, the primary opponent on the checklist are Russell Martin’s Southampton, a group Slot described as “a pleasure to look at” and “very troublesome for the groups which might be within the prime three, 4 and 5.”
With that in thoughts, don’t expect Liverpool to be resting gamers forward of their midweek conflict with Madrid.
Crew information
Right here’s what Slot revealed in his press convention:
Liverpool’s XI vs. Southampton
As Slot mentioned on Friday, the one components affecting his group choice are “the enjoying model of Southampton, the gamers getting back from South America [and] how match they’re, the accidents we now have and the gamers coming again.”
Given the top coach’s point out of Liverpool’s South American internationals, it will be a very good guess to recommend Alexis Mac Allister and Luis Diaz gained’t function from the beginning.
This turns into much more seemingly when you think about Diaz’s options, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez, loved a light-weight workload over the past couple of weeks – Gakpo enjoying 92 minutes and Nunez none.
Andy Robertson is one other who could possibly be changed within the beginning XI, having performed two extra intense video games as Scotland captain.
Kostas Tsimikas is youthful, performed fewer minutes and has proved himself a really ready deputy this marketing campaign.
Right here is how Liverpool will seemingly line up:
Caoimhin Kelleher begins in objective as Alisson remains to be not match to begin
Conor Bradley begins at right-back because of Alexander-Arnold’s hamstring harm
Nunez is recent to begin up entrance having not performed for Uruguay because of a ban
That is how Liverpool would line up:
Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo
After all, whereas the early indicators are that Liverpool’s South People will begin on the bench, Slot could resolve they’re match sufficient to play from the start.
This might see the exclusion of Nunez, with Diaz having proved himself a very good possibility by way of the center with Gakpo to his left.
Although unlikely, on this state of affairs Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai can be the 2 candidates to play alongside Mac Allister and Gravenberch in midfield.
Ibrahima Konate and Van Dijk begin collectively for a eleventh consecutive Premier League match
Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai reform the midfield trio that served Liverpool nicely within the early a part of the season
Salah begins on the best with recent legs after not being referred to as up for Egypt’s newest squad
Right here’s how this alternate group would look:
Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Diaz, Gakpo
Whichever facet Slot decides to place out, they are going to be met with resistance by Southampton who misplaced simply 1-0 at Man Metropolis in late October and 1-0 at Newcastle in August.
Whereas the Reds do have a very good latest document at St Mary’s – Liverpool have gained 4 of their final six matches there – they haven’t truly stored a clear sheet of their final 5 league visits.
With Van Dijk and Konate in sensible type, although, Slot’s group will probably be assured of conserving the Saints out this time round.