Arne Slot Darwin Nunez Liverpool 2024-25
© IMAGO - Arne Slot Darwin Nunez Liverpool 2024-25
Liverpool travel to Spain to play Champions League first-timers Girona on Tuesday night.
The Reds remain the only side in Europe's top competition with a 100% record after dismantling Real Madrid 2-0 at Anfield n the last matchday.
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Girona, meanwhile, sit 30th in the competition with only three points from their five games.
After losing key players like Savinho and Artem Dovbyk, the upstart Spanish side are unfortunately struggling.
Liverpool are amid an injury crisis right now, meaning Arne Slot is somewhat limited in terms of what he can do with this starting XI.
Here's how Liverpool line up.
GK: Alisson Becker
Alisson is back in training and Arne Slot has been clear that the Brazilian will be his goalkeeper when fit. That's apparently right now - he's back, replacing Caoimhin Kelleher.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold
Rested for the Newcastle game - and then subsequently proving his worth once again after being brought on - the cancelled Merseyside derby would have been an unwanted godsend for Alexander-Arnold's fitness. Whilst this game isn't pivotal, injuries to Conor Bradley and a poor performance by Jarell Quansah last time out means Slot doesn't have much of a choice.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
© IMAGO - Trent Alexander-Arnold
CB: Joe Gomez
After a really solid showing on his first start of the season against Manchester City, Joe Gomez did look a bit off the pace when the Reds travelled to Newcastle. Ibrahima Konate's injury and Jarell Quansah's poor form once again means that Arne Slot's hand is forced here.
CB: Virgil van Dijk
If Van Dijk is fit then Van Dijk plays. It's a good rule to live by. The whole range of the captain's experience will be necessary with the back line struggles Liverpool have at the moment.
LB: Andy Robertson
After a lacklustre start to the season, Robertson has started to find a bit of the form that has made him a Liverpool legend. An assist against Real Madrid and a more solid display going forward has counterbalanced his willingness to give penalties away, but with Kostas Tsimikas injured this one was a foregone conclusion.
CM: Ryan Gravenberch
With Alexis Mac Allister suspended, any ability to rotate midfield is a risk Arne Slot probably isn't willing to take. Whilst Wataru Endo would be more than fine in this game, Ryan Gravenberch is a complete game-changer. The hope might be for Liverpool to find themselves in a comfortable enough position to give Endo at least half an hour.
CM: Curtis Jones
Mac Allister's aforementioned suspension means in comes his natural replacement or serious competition, depending how you look at it. Jones has been spectacular since his return from injury this season.
CM: Dominik Szoboszlai
Arne Slot is starting to get when he knew he could out of Dominik Szoboszlai, who has had some of his best performances in a Liverpool shirt against Southampton and Manchester City of late.
RW: Mohamed Salah
Liverpool's front line injury woes continue to mean that Mo Salah can't really be rested. Federico Chiesa missed training through an illness despite playing for the under-21s last week, so Salah is the only natural option on the right. Of course, he plays pretty much every fixture regardless - the Reds are nigh-on dependent on the Egyptian.
LW: Luis Diaz
This is one of the biggest decisions week-to-week. Both Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz have been fantastic this season, with Slot needing to balance game time between the pair. It's the Colombian who gets the nod here, though.
© IMAGO
ST: Darwin Nuñez
Nuñez has lost his place in Liverpool's starting lineup due to Luis Diaz's new-found tenacity through the middle and the Uruguayan's own lacklustre performances. But he's back in the lineup for this one - and perhaps Nunez has a golden chance to redeem himself.
(4-2-3-1); Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai, Salah, Nuñez, Diaz
Subs: Jaros, Kelleher, Endo, Gakpo, Elliott, McConnell, Norris, Quansah
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