Arne Slot could name two strong lineups for Liverpool’s final friendly of their pre-season tour against Japanese side Yokohama F. Marinos on Wednesday.
The Reds take on J1 League strugglers Yokohama F. Marinos in a pre-season friendly which, for their hosts, interrupts an awful league campaign.
Regardless, facing a side midway through their season should prove an ideal test for a Liverpool squad looking to step up their preparations for 2025/26.
After a 4-2 defeat to AC Milan in Hong Kong which saw 21 players feature, Slot can hope to field two different XIs on Wednesday.
Liverpool team news vs. Yokohama F. Marinos
The only exception may come in goal, with Giorgi Mamardashvili potentially playing the full 90 minutes after Alisson departed the tour for personal reasons.
Backup goalkeeper Freddie Woodman and youngsters Armin Pecsi and Kornel Misciur are available if a change is required between the sticks.
Luis Diaz has also left Asia since the friendly against Milan as he nears a transfer to Bayern Munich, but Slot could have hometown hero Wataru Endo back along with Alexis Mac Allister and Darwin Nunez.
Joe Gomez is the other absentee having already returned to Merseyside for treatment on an Achilles issue.
Liverpool XIs vs. Yokohama FM
Given it is pre-season there is little value in predicting Liverpool’s starting lineup at this stage, with the head coach likely to still be experimenting with different combinations.
However there are enough players fit to put together two different sets of outfielders while leaving three on the bench.
Slot’s lineup from kickoff could see the following:
- Mamardashvili in goal with Alisson absent
- Endo starting at centre-back next to Ibrahima Konate
- Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike combining as No. 10 and striker
With those in mind, Liverpool could start with:
Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konate, Endo, Robertson; Morton, Jones, Wirtz; Salah, Ngumoha, Ekitike
With the ability to make at least 10 changes at the break, Slot could consider the following alterations among others:
- Ryan Gravenberch alongside Virgil van Dijk at centre-back
- Trey Nyoni in the deep midfield role with Harvey Elliott as No. 10
- Nunez up front after sharp displays in training
Liverpool’s potential second XI could be:
Mamardashvili; Bradley, Gravenberch, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Nyoni, Szoboszlai, Elliott; Doak, Gakpo, Nunez
That would still leave the trio of Woodman, Pecsi and Misciur on the bench along with Kostas Tsimikas, utility man Luca Stephenson and, if ready, Mac Allister.
In all likelihood the sides that take to the field at the Nissan Stadium in either half on Wednesday will be different from those suggested.
But the ability to name two strong, fairly coherent XIs demonstrates the quality available to Slot even with those absent and, perhaps, more to come in.
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