Having rested almost all of his first-team players in the Carabao Cup, Arne Slot is under pressure to get his team selection right against Aston Villa.
Liverpool’s 10 changes against Crystal Palace didn’t do their cup chances any favours, but it was done with a view to maximising the players’ performances this weekend.
Nine of those who started at Brentford should come back into the team for the Premier League, with just one Carabao Cup starter likely to remain in the starting XI.
Here’s how Liverpool could line up.
Team news
Here’s what Slot revealed in his press conference:
Liverpool’s XI vs. Aston Villa
BURNLEY, ENGLAND - Sunday, September 14, 2025: Liverpool's Milos Kerkez is replaced by substitute Andy Robertson during the FA Premier League match between Burnley FC and Liverpool FC at Turf Moor. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Milos Kerkez has been Slot’s go-to man in this season at left-back, starting every Premier League match so far. However, this could be the match that changes.
The Hungarian and Andy Robertson both started in midweek, with the latter playing on the left of a back three while Kerkez pushed on as a left wing-back.
The 21-year-old played the full 90 minutes against Palace, but Robertson came off after 67 minutes which would lead us to believe the Scotland captain could start on Saturday night.
Either way, it is almost certain that it will be one of the two who is the only player to keep their place from Wednesday’s cup defeat.
In this scenario, we would see:
This is how Liverpool would line up:
Mamardashvili; Bradley, Van Dijk, Konate, Robertson; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike
Gravenberch’s inclusion isn’t a certainty, having missed the last two matches with an ankle injury sustained against Man United.
If he isn’t deemed fit enough to play, that would mean Alexis Mac Allister probably starts in the absence of Curtis Jones who is also injured.
At right-back, Conor Bradley should keep his place due to Jeremie Frimpong‘s absence and Dominik Szoboszlai‘s required presence in midfield.
Mac Allister plays alongside Szoboszlai in midfield, with Wirtz in front
Kerkez keeps his place at left-back despite another questionable performance in midweek
Bradley starts his sixth match of the season, hopefully beginning to build a relationship with Salah
Here’s how this alternate team would look:
Mamardashvili; Bradley, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike
Whatever side Slot picks, the pressure is on for Liverpool.
While it may have been wise in the long term to rest his first team against Palace, it only ramps up the need to win against Aston Villa.
The sensible approach would be to view Wednesday’s defeat as an anomaly given the nature of the squad deployed, but defeat is still defeat and the mood around the club hasn’t improved as a result.
Villa is a must-win.