Liverpool are next up against Fulham in the Premier League with Arne Slot facing some selection posers
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Darwin Nunez of Liverpool arrives at the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League match against Girona on December 10 2024
Darwin Nunez of Liverpool arrives at the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League match against Girona on December 10 2024
(Image: Alex Caparros - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Liverpool continue to challenge strongly on several fronts after a 1-0 Champions League triumph over Girona secured another victory under head coach Arne Slot. Mohamed Salah scored the winner from the penalty spot shortly after the hour as the Reds maintained the 100% start to their European campaign to remain top of the table.
Liverpool will now turn their attention to the Premier League with a visit from Fulham at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
And here we look ahead to the changes Slot could make when his team are next in action.
READ MORE: Darwin Nunez sent Arne Slot message as Liverpool boss fumes on touchlineREAD MORE: Liverpool face tough European draw after knockout round qualification confirmed
Defensive absences
Slot will hope to have some players back available for the clash against the Cottagers, but there are unlikely to be too many alterations with heavy rotation set to be reserved for the League Cup quarter-final at Southampton the following Wednesday.
Alisson Becker returned against Girona after missing the previous 11 games with a hamstring injury, and will be expected to remain in goal ahead of Caoimhin Kelleher. Vitezslav Jaros is third choice between the sticks.
At centre-back, Joe Gomez has edged ahead of Jarell Quansah to partner skipper Virgil van Dijk with Ibrahima Konate out for the foreseeable future.
A similar absence for Conor Bradley means both Gomez and Quansah are also alternatives at right-back, although Trent Alexander-Arnold will be expected to continue in the position with Andy Robertson on the opposite flank given Kostas Tsimikas remains out.
Szoboszlai move?
Having served a one-match Champions League suspension in midweek, Alexis Mac Allister will sit out the game on Saturday with a similar ban in the Premier League.
Curtis Jones was shifted to the defensive midfield role alongside Ryan Gravenberch against Girona and would be favourite to continue. Slot, though, has options, with Dominik Szoboszlai, who started at number 10 on Tuesday, capable of playing the role and Wataru Endo also available, although the latter will most likely be reserved for Southampton.
Harvey Elliott, who continued his quest for match sharpness with 15 minutes against Girona, is almost ready for a start but may have to be content with bench duty against his former club. Tyler Morton missed the trip to Spain with a knock and is unlikely to feature at the weekend.
Nunez poser
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The big question for Slot will be what to do with his forward line. Darwin Nunez struggled in Girona and will be vying for a start down the middle with Luis Diaz, who began on the left in Spain before finishing as the central striker after Nunez's substitution.
Cody Gakpo, who has six goals in his last nine games, was a substitute in midweek and could return on the left regardless of whether or not Diaz shifts position.
Mohamed Salah is a certainty on the right, with Liverpool waiting to discover if Federico Chiesa can make a first matchday squad since September after illness forced him out against Girona. Diogo Jota has returned to full training and could be fit enough for bench duty on Saturday.