Arne Slot is facing at least two big calls over his starting lineup as Liverpool prepare to host Man United – not least which of Alexander Isak or Hugo Ekitike plays 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 come at the expense of their historic rivals Man United, who are still struggling this season and head to Merseyside sitting 10th in the Premier League.
On the back of a productive international break for many of his players – with 10 goals scored and five assists among those called up – Slot is expected to make changes from the 2-1 loss to Chelsea.
But who will start vs. Man United?
Team news: Good news on Konate and Gravenberch
We know the following regarding Slot’s available squad:
• Ibrahima Konate and Ryan Gravenberch are both in training and available
• Alisson, Giovanni Leoni, Stefan Bajcetic and Jayden Danns are out
• Wataru Endo is a doubt after missing Japan’s friendlies
Liverpool’s XI vs. Man United
With Konate and Gravenberch fit and Alisson ruled out, the majority of Slot’s starting lineup for Sunday’s 4.30pm kickoff will be fairly straightforward.
It means Virgil van Dijk will have his regular centre-back partner alongside him, Giorgi Mamardashvili will start in goal and Gravenberch will take his usual position as No. 6-ish.
There are also a handful of almost-guaranteed picks in Dominik Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo.
Less is clear over who will start at right-back or up front, but the most likely starters seem to be Conor Bradley and Ekitike.
Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
Slot spoke at length in his pre-match press conference about Isak’s journey towards full fitness and his belief that the No. 9’s “pre-season may be finished.”
The fact he played 90 minutes in both of Sweden’s World Cup qualifiers during the break still makes it more realistic that Ekitike – who only clocked seven minutes in France’s most recent game – will be selected up front.
But the head coach could turn to Isak as his centre-forward against United, along with another summer signing at right-back in Jeremie Frimpong.
Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak
There is more scope for rotation with the likes of Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa rested over the break and Andy Robertson and Alexis Mac Allister both credible options to start.
But more likely is that Slot will opt for his strongest-possible side for such a high-profile fixture with those players instead taking places among an experienced group of substitutes.
It means that, despite the absence of Alisson, Leoni and possibly Endo, Liverpool should have enough depth to return to form in style against United.
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