Our Liverpool writers select their team for tonight's Premier League clash with Leicester City at Anfield
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Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister could be rested for Liverpool this evening
Liverpool will attempt to sign off for the year at Anfield in style this evening. The Reds take on Leicester City in what is their final home game of 2024 (8pm kick-off).
Victory will ensure Arne Slot's side will remain at least four points clear at the top of the Premier League. They opened up that margin with a stunning 6-3 success at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Leicester in contrast are struggling. They have lost 3-0 at home to fellow strugglers Wolves and 4-0 away to Newcastle United in their past two matches after a bright stat to life under new boss Ruud van Nistelrooy.
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So how does Liverpool head coach Slot go about getting one over his fellow Dutchman? Stick with the same side that swept aside Spurs? Or rotate the squad with a trickier looking trip to West Ham United coming up?
Our Reds writers have their say...
Paul Gorst
With what looks like a bit of a Boxing Day banker at home to troubled Leicester City, the question of whether Arne Slot can rest and rotate becomes a real prospect.
The opportunity to maybe give Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch some time off is one I am taking, so both come out the midfield with Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo coming in. The Japan captain hasn’t started a Premier League game yet under Slot but this is a chance to give Gravenberch in particular some time on the bench. We’re only at halfway point, remember.
Not too many changes in defence for me. Kostas Tsimikas comes back in for Andy Robertson, to give the Scotland skipper some time off too. It’s a busy time so managing the options will be vital.
Up top, I’d give Diogo Jota the nod and move Luis Diaz out to the left. Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez can wait in the wings.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Endo, Mac Allister; Salah, Jones, Diaz; Jota.
Ian Doyle
What says Christmas more than an 8pm game on Boxing Day? A stupid time to play, yes, but one where Liverpool can strengthen their grip at the top of the Premier League table. What, then, is Arne Slot to do?
There is scope for some rotation and it might be time for that to be embraced.
Perhaps not in defence, though. That can stay unchanged, which means Alisson Becker in goal, Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, Andy Robertson left-back and Joe Gomez joining skipper Virgil van Dijk at centre-back.
Midfield can see some alteration, with Curtis Jones coming in for Alexis Mac Allister alongside Ryan Gravenberch in the double pivot. Dominik Szoboszlai can carry on in the number 10 role.
And up top, Diogo Jota can start down the centre, with Luis Diaz moving to the left and Mohamed Salah staying on the right.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Jota.
Theo Squires
If Liverpool were not now navigating the Premier League festive period, there would be a good case for naming an unchanged side against Leicester, given how well the Reds performed at Tottenham.
But Arne Slot has been a master of rotation since taking over at Anfield. And with the campaign now at its most intense period, the Dutchman can tinker once more against the Foxes.
After their recent returns from injury, both Diogo Jota and Kostas Tsimikas can be handed their first starts following their comebacks.
The rest of the back five is unchanged, but Luis Diaz can move to the left-wing to make room for the Portuguese as Cody Gakpo drops to the bench.
It would be incredibly harsh to bench Dominik Szoboszlai after his starring role against Spurs. So the Hungarian continues at number 10, with Alexis Mac Allister instead rotated out as Curtis Jones is restored to the starting XI.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Jota.