Liverpool delivered a much-needed 2-0 victory over Aston Villa in the Premier League, with Mohamed Salah and Ryan Gravenberch finding the back of the net against Unai Emery's side. Despite struggling for form this season, Salah and Alexis Mac Allister were on top form at Anfield. Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai also put in excellent performances.
However, Arne Slot now faces the challenge of preparing his team for upcoming matches against Real Madrid and Manchester City. These crucial fixtures are set to take place in quick succession, three games in just nine days. This makes the team selection for Tuesday's high-profile match against Real Madrid all the more intriguing. While it would be ideal for the same team that performed so well over the weekend to retain their places, this seems unlikely.
With Alisson Becker not expected to return before the international break, Giorgi Mamardashvili will have another opportunity to impress. However, decisions need to be made regarding the defence.
Andy Robertson was impressive at left-back on Saturday, but the possibility of Milos Kerkez stepping in three days later cannot be dismissed. It's highly unlikely that Robertson will play three full 90-minute matches.
On the other wing, Conor Bradley's fitness must be carefully monitored. With Jeremie Frimpong currently out of action, Liverpool will be cautious not to overburden the Northern Irishman, who has already sat out matches this season.
Last season, Ibrahima Konate demonstrated his ability to play three times a week consistently, and he appeared more confident and reliable against Aston Villa. Virgil van Dijk, on the other hand, is ready for another match without any issues.
In the midfield, there's another challenging decision to make. The Gravenberch-Mac Allister-Szoboszlai trio performed well at Anfield in the Premier League, so it might be wise to keep them together.
Slot confirmed that Gravenberch should be fit to play again despite recently returning from injury, but it's unclear how summer signing Florian Wirtz, who was benched against Aston Villa, will fit into the team.
Wirtz is the most offensive option Liverpool can deploy in the number 10 role. While he meets his pressing duties, Szoboszlai is currently performing at a higher level.
The German could operate from the left flank, potentially replacing Cody Gakpo in the starting line-up. However, he may also be considered for a substitute role, with a possible re-evaluation ahead of the trip to Manchester City.
Salah, following his goal-scoring performance, will undoubtedly feature on the right wing. Hugo Ekitike, despite having a goal disallowed for a marginal offside, should also retain his spot.
At present, the return date for Alexander Isak remains uncertain. Liverpool are scheduled to train at 12.15pm UK time on Monday with Slot set to provide the latest injury updates in a press conference at 3.30pm UK time.