Liverpool begin their Champions League campaign against Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday night, and our writers have selected their starting line-ups
Paul Gorst is the Liverpool ECHO's Liverpool FC correspondent and brings readers the inside track on all matters Anfield day in, day out. Now into his seventh season in the role, Paul follows the Reds home and away, wherever they play - including pre season. He brings you all the latest Liverpool news first each day, plus exclusive interviews and insightful, independent analysis. A journalist with over a decade's worth of experience, he has worked at the ECHO since 2016.
Alexander Isak could make his Liverpool debut
Alexander Isak could make his Liverpool debut(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Liverpool's first Anfield European night of a new season is always a special one, and in Atletico Madrid the Reds have been provided with fitting opponents for the occasion.
The Spanish giants head to Merseyside to open their Champions League campaign with a standout fixture, and one that they aren't likely to be looking forward to after the Reds began their campaign with four successive Premier League victories.
Late goals were needed in all of those games though, and so will Arne Slot be tempted to shuffle his pack on Wednesday night, especially with Saturday's Anfield derby on the horizon? We asked our team just what they think Slot's selection could be.
Paul Gorst
Arne Slot has been coy when quizzed but the Liverpool boss has at least confirmed Alexander Isak will play some part this evening.
And while the Sweden international has only played 18 minutes since May, having gone on strike to force his £125m Anfield move, I’m tempted to give him the nod from the start against Atletico Madrid tonight. He is going to have build up his fitness somewhere, so why not start tonight, under the Anfield lights?
It might be a bit harsh to move Hugo Ekitike to the bench but it’s a long old campaign and keeping both big-money frontmen fresh will be integral. Ekitike can have half an hour, all being well.
There are also changes for me in the full-back areas. Jeremie Frimpong and Andy Robertson come in for Dominik Szoboszlai and Milos Kerkez, respectively, with the Hungary captain moving into midfield.
Alexis Mac Allister is the player who drops out to accommodate Szoboszlai. The Argentina World Cup winner took a whack to the ankle at Burnley and was already having his minutes managed, so he can drop out and wait in the wings if needed. Ryan Gravenberch starts alongside Szoboszlai.
My team: Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.
Isak could be handed a start by Slot
Isak could be handed a start by Slot(Image: Getty Images)
Ian Doyle
The Champions League. There's nothing quite like it under the lights at Anfield. And there's no visiting manager who can rile a home crowd quite like Diego Simeone of Atletico Madrid. It's going to be a big old scrap. What, then, is Liverpool boss Arne Slot to do?
There should be changes, but not in goal. That's Alisson Becker. And both Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk should continue at centre-back. Full-back, though, is where rotation should take place, with Andy Robertson in at left-back and Conor Bradley the right-back.
That will allow Dominik Szoboszlai to move into midfield alongside Ryan Gravenberch in the double pivot, with Florian Wirtz the number 10. And up top, Mohamed Salah is on the right with Cody Gakpo on the left and, yes, Alexander Isak playing down the middle. For the first half, anyway.
My team: Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.
Theo Squires
The Champions League is back! And Alexander Isak is set to make his Liverpool debut. It is already shaping up to be an exciting night at Anfield against Atletico Madrid.
After beating Burnley, Arne Slot suggested that the Swede could feature for at least 45 minutes against the La Liga outfit. So with that in mind, I’m going to let the excitement surrounding the £125m man get the better of me and select him to start upfront.
Hugo Ekitike drops out, though he’ll be starting the Merseyside derby on Saturday, with Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo continuing as the trio behind the striker.
Alexis Mac Allister also drops to the bench. He might have trained on Tuesday but let’s tread carefully with his ankle. Dominik Szoboslzai can partner Ryan Gravenberch instead.
Which means a change at right-back. I’m going for Jeremie Frimpong after his lively cameo against Burnley, while Andy Robertson is handed his first start of the season on the opposing flank after Milos Kerkez’s difficult afternoon at Turf Moor.
My team: Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.
Andy Robertson came on for Milos Kerkez at Burnley
Andy Robertson came on for Milos Kerkez at Burnley
Mark Jones
First, the bad news for the faint of heart. You know that extraordinary beginning to the season with those four successive late winners? Yeah, that was the easy part.
From hereon in we’re into two games a week for the foreseeable future, and I think you might see birthday boy Arne Slot decide to rotate a little bit more than he did last season.
I’d give Joe Gomez a run out against Atletico and rest Ibrahima Konate for the weekend, I’d also like to see Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong get 45 minutes each at right-back, and Andy Robertson deserves a start on the left against the side he could have joined in the summer.
Dominik Szoboszlai moves into midfield, where Alexis Mac Allister drops out, and while I’m a big Cody Gakpo fan he was underwhelming at Burnley, so let’s rest him for the derby and unleash Rio Ngumoha for an hour shall we?
Upfront I do understand the clamour for an Alexander Isak start but I’ll give him the last 20 minutes. And the inevitable injury time winner.
My team: Alisson; Bradley, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Ngumoha; Ekitike.