Liverpool team vs Fulham predicted as Mohamed Salah and Rio Ngumoha decisions made

Liverpool faces Fulham on Saturday as it returns to Premier League action, with Arne Slot facing a number of dilemmas as he picks from his misfiring group of players

Rio Ngumoha could be in with a shot of starting for Liverpool against Fulham(Image: Getty Images)

It feels like it’s make or break for Liverpool at this stage now as it returns to Premier League action against Fulham on Saturday.

With any hope of some silverware fading fast after defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final this week, all eyes will now be trained on securing a top five finish and making sure the Reds are at Europe’s top table again next season.

Arne Slot’s side has been boosted in that regard, given a top-four finish is increasingly looking out of their grasp, although with the way things are going at the moment, even fifth is going to be a big ask.

Any fan who has watched Liverpool of late will likely be worried about where the next win is going to come from, with performances threatening to spiral out of control. The Reds were lucky not to receive another thrashing in Paris in midweek, and Slot faces a difficult balancing act now ahead of the second leg at Anfield on Tuesday.

And, although supporters aren’t best-pleased with the head coach right now, you certainly wouldn’t want to swap places with him at the moment.

Where on earth do you begin with this team? Getting any sort of tune out of this group of players looks an almost impossible task now, but if they’re going to turn up, it has to be when a place in next season’s Champions League is on the line.

There is at least one easy decision to make. Giorgi Mamardashvili will continue in goal, with Alisson Becker still recovering from a hamstring problem.

Now to the hard part. First off all, let’s ditch the five at the back system, and honestly, let’s hope it doesn’t make a return any time soon.

Andy Robertson could start for Liverpool against Fulham(Image: Getty)

Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk can take their usual spots at the heart of the defense. Having announced his impending departure this week, let’s give Andy Robertson a run-out at left-back.

Right-back is a real conundrum. Joe Gomez doesn’t really feel like the answer, and Jeremie Frimpong feels like a risk given his injury problems this season. As loath as I am to do this, I think Dominik Szoboszlai will have to fill in there once again.

Ryan Gravenberch can continue in midfield, and Curtis Jones can get a rare opportunity to start alongside him. Florian Wirtz can operate as the No.10, but the German needs to start producing more.

Mohamed Salah might return to the starting line-up(Image: Getty Images)

Having been left on the bench in Paris, Mohamed Salah can return to the line-up today, and hopefully - just to inject some joy into this team - Rio Ngumoha will be on the opposite flank.

Up front, Hugo Ekitike starts once again. Honestly, it feels like the Frenchman needs a rest, but Alexander Isak won’t be ready to start yet, and Cody Gakpo just looks shot of confidence. Assuming Isak’s minutes are going to increase, then perhaps Ekitike will just be needed for around an hour, which might save his legs somewhat for the second leg against PSG.

Liverpool predicted team vs Fulham: Mamardashvili; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Wirtz, Ngumoha; Ekitike.