18 hours ago
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Arne Slot approaches Sunday’s Premier League encounter against Manchester United with several significant selection dilemmas to address.
Liverpool heads into the match on the back of a losing run of three games, a run Slot is desperate to halt. Thankfully, he only has one injury concern to contend with, with Wataru Endo a major doubt. However, the Japan captain was unlikely to start even if he was available.
Giovanni Leoni and Alisson are the only players to be completely ruled out through injury, and the latter’s absence means Giorgi Mamardashvili’s second-ever Premier League appearance will come in the division’s most high-profile fixture.
In defense, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez have started all seven league matches this season and are likely to do so again. Konate should be fit after returning to training in recent days following the injury that prevented him from meeting up with the France squad over the international break.
If three of the back four are predictable, guessing who starts at right-back is anything but. Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley and Dominik Szoboszlai have all had opportunities in the role this season, and any of the trio could play on Sunday.
Szoboszlai’s selection would impact Slot’s midfield make-up. It’s likely the Hungarian will start in some capacity, along with Ryan Gravenberch in midfield.
Rejuvenated from a goal-scoring international break, Alexis Mac Allister could also be named in the XI, while Florian Wirtz is another option.
The German dropped out of the team against Everton and Chelsea in recent weeks and has also operated in the wide areas. Meanwhile, there have been calls for Slot to revert to the tried-and-trusted midfield trio that guided him to the title last season.
Mohamed Salah’s underwhelming form has also sparked debate over the international break, but he will almost certainly start on the right wing.
With Alexander Isak fully fit for the first time this season, surely the British record signing will be selected up front?
That could see Hugo Ekitike named among the substitutes despite his excellent start to the season.
As for the final spot in Liverpool’s attack, Cody Gakpo, who once nearly joined United, is the obvious choice. But his form has dipped recently and selecting Wirtz out left would allow Slot to start with last season’s midfield triumvirate.
Federico Chiesa represents a left-field option, but given Slot doesn’t trust the Italian in high-stakes games, that feels unlikely.
Liverpool predicted line-up: Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Isak.
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