Arne Slot Darwin Nunez Liverpool 2024-25
© IMAGO - Arne Slot Darwin Nunez Liverpool 2024-25
Arne Slot could make four changes to the starting XI that ran Manchester City off the Anfield pitch on Sunday night.
Liverpool have an opportunity to continue their great momentum this season and take all three points from Newcastle. Although Arne Slot will be very conscious of avoiding a potentia slip up.
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This is a venue where Arsenal have slipped up before less than a month ago and while Newcastle aren't in great form, their home form is not to be overlooked.
But that doesn't mean Slot will not make changes, with the derby at the weekend some big calls need to be made by the Liverpool head coach.
Goalkeeper
Arne Slot sticks with the in-form Caoimhin Kelleher with his first-choice Alisson still being sidelined with a hamstring injury and lack of match fitness.
Shifting Kelleher out would have been unfair given not only his level of performance over the past few months but his game-saving penalty save from Kylian Mbappe last week.
He will probably have a lot more to do this time around than he did against City at the weekend.
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Defence
Trent Alexander-Arnold reemerges as the starting right back with Conor Bradley out injured for the unforeseeable future.
Ibrahima Konate also suffered an injury just as the full-time whistle blew against Real Madrid and he was in crutches at the weekend. Joe Gomez got his first league start of the season but this time around it will be Jarell Quansah in order to give the England international a rest.
Quansah will be partnered by Liverpool's ever-present captain, Virgil van Dijk.
Andy Robertson takes left-back as ever, with the ankle injury Kostas Tsimikas suffered in training this week making the decision foregone.
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Midfield
It'll take divine intervention to move Ryan Gravenberch from defensive midfield, given he is the best in the world at that position right now.
Alexis Mac Allister has proven that he is the difference between good and great Liverpool performances. The Argentinian was seismic against Madrid, winning player of the match to go along with his goal and he followed that up with a brilliant performance against Manchester City.
Dominik Szoboszlai came in to play against City at the weekend replacing Curtis Jones. Szoboszlai was superb and probably produced his best performance on the night. However, Jones has equally been brilliant and he comes in for this one to give the Hungarian midfielder a breather.
Harvey Elliott could also be used off the bench having now returned to full fitness.
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Attack
This is where Slot has more room for rotation.
Salah's inclusion is like death or taxes, the Egyptian will understandably start.
But with Diaz playing through the middle against Man City it would not be a surprise for Slot to bring Nunez back into the side this time around.
The Uruguayan can use his pace to attack Liverpool's opponents and could be extremely valuable on the counter for the Reds.
Gakpo scored against Man City and Real Madrid and he's in great form which means he gets the nod ahead of Diaz this time around.
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Liverpool (4-2-1-3): Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones Salah, Nunez, Gakpo
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