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Liverpool's manager, Arne Slot, is set to shuffle his pack once more for the team's Premier League showdown this weekend.
The Reds, who have had a flawless start to the season, are off to Selhurst Park to square off against an undefeated Crystal Palace on Saturday. Following a rest for several key players in Tuesday's 2-1 triumph over Southampton in the Carabao Cup, many are anticipated to return rejuvenated for the game in London.
This includes Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk, who were among the Liverpool group that attended the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris on Monday. They'll be joined by Ibrahima Konate, while Milos Kerkez, who was on the bench on Tuesday, is expected to start at left-back.
Liverpool's head coach Slot has a selection conundrum on the right side, with both Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley vying for the position.
A last-minute decision is anticipated, but it wouldn't be a shock if Bradley, who was brought on as a second-half substitute at Anfield, is chosen over the Dutch international.
In midfield, the vital Ryan Gravenberch is poised to return, leaving Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz to fight for the remaining two spots in the engine room.
Wirtz may return to the pitch after being sidelined in the match against the Saints, following a substitute appearance in the Merseyside derby on Saturday. Meanwhile, Mac Allister, who recently became a father, is on track to regain full fitness after a truncated preseason schedule.
Szoboszlai, one of the early season's standout players, could be difficult to overlook, particularly after enjoying a week off.
In the forward line, Mohamed Salah is expected to make a comeback, and Alexander Isak is likely to start the game, having made additional strides toward full match fitness on Tuesday.
The Swedish international played the first half, which means he now has nearly 150 minutes of game time since May. While Slot would ideally like to bring the striker off the bench, Hugo Ekitike's suspension has necessitated a change.
Ekitike received a red card against the Saints for removing his shirt in celebration while already on a yellow card, a decision that Slot has criticized.
This implies that Isak will be tasked with leading the attack for the first time as a Liverpool player, unless his manager throws a curveball.
Federico Chiesa delivered an outstanding performance against Southampton, with his work ethic and quality merging seamlessly. However, it's worth noting that his two assists came against a struggling second-tier team.
So, the pressing question is: will Slot trust Chiesa to replicate his Selhurst Park performance on a larger stage?
Given the Italian star's absence from the squad for the Merseyside derby, a spot on the bench seems more likely. Despite not being fully fit, Isak appears to be a more dependable choice.
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