Liverpool take on Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night, and Arne Slot could opt to make a tactical switch
Florian Wirtz will hope to earn a spot in the Liverpool starting XI
Florian Wirtz will hope to earn a spot in the Liverpool starting XI
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The big games keep coming for Liverpool. And sandwiched in between a much-needed victory over Aston Villa and a trip to Manchester City comes the small matter of a visit from Real Madrid.
Much of the focus is obviously on a certain returning Red in the Real ranks ahead of the clash, but while the world obsesses over the reception Trent Alexander-Arnold will receive at his former home, there are much more pertinent questions for Arne Slot to consider.
How will the Reds boss choose to set up his team to take on Xabi Alonso's side? We asked our writers for their hot takes.
Paul Gorst
Arne Slot was insistent that Sunday’s trip to Manchester City won’t be in his thinking when picking his Liverpool team for the visit of Real Madrid but three points at the Etihad are more useful than this evening, I’d suggest.
That being said, Slot won’t be resting his big guns for the weekend. These are the sort of weeks you want the Reds to be having and a big few days could yet see them decisively over the hump of the last few month or so. The victory over Aston Villa on Saturday was a good step forward.
Slot’s hands are tied at right-back so Conor Bradley will be asked to go to the well again and put in a real shift this evening against Vinicius Junior. Andy Robertson keeps his place for me at left-back over Milos Kerkez as well.
Florian Wirtz can continue in reserve. It’s a special player to have coming off the bench but Liverpool look more safe and secure with a return to last season’s tried-and-trusted midfield three. With Alexander Isak still sidelined, Hugo Ekitike will lead the line. Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo both start.
My team (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike.
Ian Doyle
Real Madrid in the Champions League visiting to play Liverpool at Anfield. Isn’t that exciting? Well, it would be if the teams didn’t keep playing against each other all the time. With Real Madrid usually winning by hook or crook.
What, then, is Reds boss Arne Slot to do? There are many days to the trip to Manchester City, so I’d go as strong as possible for this one.
That means Giorgi Mamardashvili in goal, Conor Bradley going again at right-back, Andy Robertson staying at left-back and Ibrahima Konate continuing to partner skipper Virgil van Dijk at centre-back.
In midfield there’s also no change, with Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister the double pivot and Dominik Szobobszlai the number 10.
There is, though, a slight tweak up top. So say hello to Florian Wirtz as the false nine while Mohamed Salah is on the right and Cody Gakpo on the left.
My team (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Wirtz.
Theo Squires
Liverpool returned to winning ways against Aston Villa by reverting to the tried and trusted in defence and midfield, but Real Madrid will be a truer test of whether Arne Slot’s men have really turned the corner.
I’d be naming an unchanged back five for this one, with Conor Bradley and Andy Robertson continuing in both full-back positions. Ibrahima Konate starts at centre-back alongside Virgil van Dijk, with the Frenchman, who was superb the last time Real Madrid came to town, hopefully in top form again against a side who continue to be touted as would-be suitors should he depart on a free transfer next summer.
Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister were reunited in impressive fashion against Villa, so they continue in the deeper midfield roles.
But with Florian Wirtz’s best football coming in the Champions League this season, I’m opting for a change of formation to include the German in the starting XI. You can’t drop Dominik Szoboszlai, after all, when he has been Liverpool’s standout player this season!
I don’t want to shoehorn Wirtz in on the left or as a false nine, so the occasionally-spotted box midfield can return for this one with Szoboszlai on its right and Wirtz to his left. Curtis Jones is then ready to come on as a substitute in any of the roles in the box after returning to training.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo start in their natural roles on either flank as a result, with Hugo Ekitike making way. But the Frenchman will still have an important role to play as substitute, of course, on what is set to be a big night at Anfield as a certain Trent Alexander-Arnold returns to Merseyside with his new employers.
My team (4-2-2-2): Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Salah, Gakpo.
Mark Jones
How many times last season would we debate starting XIs and plot the changes that Arne Slot seemed certain to make, only for the Liverpool boss to end up making few if any alterations? Off the back of the win over Aston Villa I think he might end up doing the same thing again here.
There are certain weeks that you just need your players to battle through and go again for you, and with a decent break between tonight's fixture and Sunday's trip to Manchester City, this seems like one of them.
Sure there are some positions up for grabs in the side, but Slot - who only made one substitution against Villa - will be able to look at the likes of Conor Bradley and Alexis Mac Allister and challenge them to repeat last season's excellent performances in this fixture. Cody Gakpo, too, has fond memories of facing Real after scoring within eight minutes of coming on 12 months ago.
Florian Wirtz is probably the major selection decision, but it feels like Slot and Liverpool need to go with what they know for the next few days. The German's time will come after the international break.
My team (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike.