Liverpool team vs Crystal Palace confirmed as Alexander Isak and Federico Chiesa decisions made

3 hours ago 30

Alexander Isak makes his first Premier League start for Liverpool against Crystal Palace as Arne Slot's side aims to maintain its 100 per cent record at the start of the new season.

The Swedish striker, who arrived for a fee of around $169 million (£125 million) from Newcastle United on deadline day, came off the bench against Everton in the league, but his other appearances have come against Atletico Madrid (Champions League) and Southampton (League Cup).

Alisson Becker is in the Liverpool goal with Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez making up the back four. Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai are in midfield.

Florian Wirtz comes back into the Liverpool starting XI having been moved to the bench last weekend against Everton. He is joined in attack by Isak and Mohamed Salah.

Federico Chiesa, who didn't make the bench in the Merseyside derby, is among the substitutes. Rio Ngumoha is another who could change the game from the sidelines; he signed his first professional contract with the Reds earlier this week.

"He's able to make minutes again," Slot said when he was asked about Isak on Friday in his press conference. "I still feel 90 — [it] depends also on the pace and the intensity of the game — might be a bit too much.

"But not only that, also for the long term. So you can maybe give one, I would call, stupid hit to bring him to 90 and then you brought him too far over the line.

Liverpool attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz.

Liverpool attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz.

"So, I don't think it's smart to play him 90 yet. But he's further into his pre-season now and normally after two or three weeks in pre-season players go to 60, 70 minutes.

"In some clubs they even bring them to 90. But if you look at our pre-season, we mainly bring them to 60 to 70 minutes then."

Hugo Ekitike is suspended for this match having been given two yellow cards midweek against Southampton. He was cautioned for dissent and then for removing his jersey in celebration following his late winner.

"If disciplined means that I spoke to him then it's disciplined — but I don't think that is disciplined," Slot said. "Disciplined means a fine — and that he didn't get.

"So, it wasn't very smart what he did, what he recognized himself immediately straight away, so he said sorry straight away to his teammates. He's young.

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"Players of all ages do make mistakes and that's what he did in this situation as well. But we all make mistakes and you're allowed at this club to make a mistake without immediately getting fined or these kind of things.

"He's a fantastic human being. I think if you talk to all the staff members and you would ask them a top three of the warmest persons and the most polite persons, I think he's in every staff member's top three.

"So even if he wasn't a person like this, he was able to make a mistake. But it wasn't smart. It didn't hurt us [on] Tuesday evening, it might hurt us a bit more [against Crystal Palace].

"The positive thing is that Federico Chiesa is showing himself at the moment, so it's also a chance for him now to be on the bench and maybe get playing minutes with Hugo not being there."

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