Image Credits: Imago Images
Liverpool return to Premier League action this weekend, and the mood around Anfield is mixed.
The champions want a response after the defeat to Manchester City before the international break.
The title race is still tight, and every game matters.
Nottingham Forest come to Anfield fighting for their own points, and Liverpool know there is no room for slow starts.
Arne Slot has spent the week weighing his options.
Injuries have forced difficult conversations in training.
Some players are just coming back.
Others are out at the worst possible time.
And there is pressure because the schedule is getting heavy again.
The biggest talking point has been the right-back position.
Conor Bradley’s injury during international duty created a gap that Liverpool must fill quickly.
The midfield also needs reshuffling because Florian Wirtz is unavailable.
And even though Alisson has returned to training, the decision at goalkeeper needed careful thought.
These are real issues for Slot as the champions try to regain rhythm.
So the manager has had to think about players stepping into roles they do not usually play.
He hinted at this in his press conference, and it shaped the final team news.
The confirmed Liverpool lineup reflects those challenges.
Conor Bradley is out for at least three weeks with a muscle issue, and Slot explained the full-back situation in detail.
He said, “He [Szoboszlai] is doing so well in every position.”
‘That’s true.”
“He’s played really well as a full-back and played really well as a midfielder.”
He added that Curtis Jones is also an option, saying, “Curtis Jones played there last season.”
Slot then spoke about Joe Gomez, “Joe Gomez can play there but Joe Gomez has played, I think if I’m correct, two times 90 minutes throughout the whole 2025 year… he missed out on a training session yesterday by the way as well but we are expecting him to train today.”
He summed it up with, “Challenging but the good thing is we have still enough good players available and maybe one of them or two of them have to play in positions they usually don’t do.”
“That’s what we have to accept.”
Florian Wirtz also drops out through injury, so Cody Gakpo starts on the left.
Alisson returns after seven games out and reclaims his place.
Alisson; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Jones, Salah, Gakpo; Isak.
The champions are patched up, but they are ready.
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