Liverpool could be without up to five players for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
The Reds’ thumping 5-1 Champions League win away against Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday came at a cost, as both Jeremie Frimpong and Alexander Isak were forced off with respective hamstring and groin injuries.
While Frimpong is facing a few weeks on the sidelines, joining Giovanni Leoni (ACL), Alisson Becker (hamstring) in the treatment room, club-record signing Isak has emerged as a major doubt, with head coach Arne Slot ‘hoping for the best’.
On a positive note, Liverpool hope to have Ryan Gravenberch available for selection after he missed the midweek win in Germany with a minor ankle issue. The Dutchman could be fit to battle with Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai for a start in midfield.
Szoboszlai is also a contender to operate at right-back, as is Conor Bradley, in the absence of Frimpong, while Milos Kerkez will be pushing to replace Andrew Robertson at left-back.
Captain Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate - who both scored headers against Frankfurt - should continue at the heart of the defence, protecting Giorgi Mamardashvili between the sticks.
In the expected absence of Isak, Hugo Ekitike - another scorer in midweek - is set to start as the central striker, while Slot has a big decision to make over whether to recall out-of-form attacker Mohamed Salah, who has failed to score from open play in his last seven PL matches.
Florian Wirtz, who has begun as a substitute in three of Liverpool’s last four league games, assisted the Reds’ final two goals against Frankfurt and will hope to earn a start against Brentford, either in a central role or out on the right. Cody Gakpo, meanwhile, is set to retain his spot on the left flank.
Liverpool possible starting lineup: Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike
> Click here to see how Brentford could line up for this contest
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