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Dominik Szoboszlai’s potential absence against Tottenham Hotspur could leave Arne Slot with a puzzling selection dilemma to solve on Saturday.
The Liverpool star was replaced in the 83rd minute of last weekend’s 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion. Szoboszlai sustained an ankle injury during the game, and after continuing for a brief period, Slot made the decision to withdraw one of his most trusted players.
In fact, those seven minutes on Saturday were the first Szoboszlai has missed in the Premier League or Champions League this season, with Liverpool growing reliant on the Hungarian’s versatility to solve the team’s problems. Szoboszlai has started in four different positions this season, making his possible omission at Spurs even more significant.
That Liverpool is missing Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo amplifies Slot’s selection headache.
The Reds' head coach claimed last week that he could call upon 13 experienced outfield players, and the Premier League champions failed to name a full bench against Brighton.
Since then, Joe Gomez and Szoboszlai have picked up injuries, although Conor Bradley’s return from suspension should at least ease some of Slot’s concerns at right-back.
It’s in the attacking areas where Liverpool is currently lacking. The reluctance to start Federico Chiesa or Rio Ngumoha further reduces Liverpool’s options on the right wing, where Szoboszlai has started two of the last three.
Should Slot wish to stick with his more traditional 4-2-3-1 shape, he may have no option but to start with Chiesa, or shoehorn Hugo Ekitike or Florian Wirtz into that position.
Alternatively, reverting to a diamond midfield, a shape Liverpool deployed in the win over Inter Milan, seems logical.
That would involve a recall for the rusty and increasingly unreliable Alexander Isak, who would partner the in-form Ekitike up front.
In midfield, Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexi Mac Allister and Wirtz would offer a reliable quartet. The only issue with such an approach is Liverpool’s lack of midfield cover on the substitutes’ bench.
Meanwhile, with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate as the only fit center-backs, reverting to a back three seems impossible. That could only be achieved if Gravenberch or Andy Robertson were to line up at the heart of defense, something Slot has previously trialed.
However the Liverpool head coach approaches the game, the possible absence of up to seven players is problematic. It underlines the dearth of reliable squad members he is currently operating with, an issue that must be addressed in January.
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