Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai both come into the Liverpool team to face Manchester City today with Arne Slot freshening things up after the midweek Champions League win over Real Madrid.
Gakpo came off the bench to score for the Reds on that occasion while Szoboszlai was left out with Curtis Jones excelling in his place. The Hungarian comes back in here, though, likely preferred because of his running and pressing ability.
With Alisson Becker still injured, Caoimhin Kelleher starts in goal for Liverpool. Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate picked up issues in the win over Real Madrid, meaning Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez come in here, chosen over Jarell Quansah.
In addition to Szoboszlai, Liverpool also has Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister in midfield with Jones dropping to the bench. Harvey Elliott and Wataru Endo are also among the options that Slot can turn to from the sidelines.
Gakpo is joined up top by Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz. Darwin Nunez drops to the bench where he could make an impact in the second half. The Uruguayan is yet to make the most of the opportunity he has been afforded while Diogo Jota is injured.
"It is an interesting time to play Manchester City because so many are questioning them at the moment," Slot writes in today's official matchday program. "I am not one of them.
"This is not to ignore their recent results, because clearly they have not been of the usual standard, but City still have one of the best managers in the world — if not the best manager in the world — numerous top-class players and a culture of success, which means they cannot be written off even in times of adversity.
FILE PHOTO (EDITORS NOTE: COMPOSITE OF IMAGES - Image numbers 2186625880, 2171961011) In this composite image a comparison has been made between Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool (L) and Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City. Liverpool and Manchester City meet in a Premier League match on December 1,2024 at Anfield in Liverpool, England. ***LEFT IMAGES*** SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 24: Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, looks on during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Liverpool FC at St Mary's Stadium on November 24, 2024 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 14: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, looks on prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Brentford FC at Etihad Stadium on September 14, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Arne Slot and Pep Guardiola go head-to-head this afternoon (Image: 2024 Getty Images)
"To be very clear, they remain one of the best sides not only in this country but also in the world and we have prepared for this fixture on that basis. Of course we get to take our own belief into the game and we will definitely do that, but we also arrive with the knowledge that our performance will have to be as good, if not even better, than it was on Wednesday night.
“We should not be surprised that we are in a good position, though. The squad that I inherited is one that has been high-performing for several seasons."
Liverpool starting XI: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Diaz, Gakpo. Subs: Jaros, Davies, Quansah, Endo, Jones, Morton, Elliott, Nyoni, Nunez.