3 ways Liverpool could line up vs Wolves after Alexander Isak and Dominik Szoboszlai setbacks

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot faces some big decisions ahead of the weekend's visit of Wolves in the Premier League, with Alexander Isak and Dominik Szoboszlai among those missing

Alexander Isak, Arne Slot and Dominik Szoboszlai.(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool might be struggling for numbers heading into the weekend's clash with Wolves in the Premier League, but Arne Slot still has some major decisions to make.

Alexander Isak, of course, is set to miss the next few months because of a broken leg, while Dominik Szoboszlai will be absent here through a suspension for collecting five yellow cards. Mohamed Salah is at AFCON, while Joe Gomez and Wataru Endo are both injured, and Cody Gakpo and Conor Bradley are doubts.

What can Arne Slot do with his team selection? Liverpool.com has taken a look at the options available to the Dutch head coach — and they are limited.

Option 1: Jeremie Frimpong on the wing

If Conor Bradley is fit enough to start, the most obvious solution would be to play Jeremie Frimpong in Szoboszlai's position. The Dutch international is arguably better as a winger than a right-back anyway.

That would involve the fewest changes to the team that won at Tottenham. Szoboszlai was playing wide right and Frimpong did well at Spurs when he came on and provided an assist.

It would all hinge on there being another option (Bradley) to play at full-back, though. With Joe Gomez out, Szoboszlai suspended, and Curtis Jones needed in midfield, there really isn't much of a choice beyond that.

Line-up option 1: Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Jones, Gravenberch; Frimpong, Mac Allister, Wirtz; Ekitike.

Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong in training for Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

Option 2: Federico Chiesa starts

Only once before has Federico Chiesa started for Liverpool in a Premier League game, and that did not go well. The Reds already had the title wrapped up, and the Italian was deployed down the center in a meaningless defeat at Brighton.

Could he be handed another opportunity here? It might well be now or never. Chiesa, aside from Frimpong, who might be needed at full-back, is the only available option to play off the right.

If Frimpong is required in defense, Arne Slot would surely have to turn to Chiesa. It would either be the former Juventus man or a younger alternative with less experience but perhaps the match sharpness to the 90 minutes.

Line-up option 2: Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Jones, Gravenberch; Chiesa, Mac Allister, Wirtz; Ekitike.

Federico Chiesa during a Liverpool training session.(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Option 3: Rio Ngumoha or Cody Gakpo return

Perhaps the least likely of the three options would be to move Florian Wirtz from the left to the right and ask either Rio Ngumoha or Cody Gakpo to play from the left.

The latter might not be fit — like Bradley, he is rated at 50:50 for involvement, and even if he is involved, might be limited to an appearance off the subs bench — but the return of Gakpo would be timely.

As for Ngumoha, while Liverpool has been careful with him, if there is ever a time to throw him in and see what happens, it is probably against a team that has picked up two points from 17 fixtures, conceding an average of 2.17 goals per game.

Line-up option 3: Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Jones, Gravenberch; Wirtz, Mac Allister, Ngumoha/Gakpo; Ekitike.

While Slot's options are limited, he does have some choices to make. At least eight spots in the team — as long as there is no more in the way of illness or absence before the game — should be secured, but some big calls remain beyond that.