Arne Slot faces difficult choices about his attacking options Wednesday, as Liverpool host PSV Eindhoven in the fifth matchday of this season’s Champions League, looking for a response after their 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forestat the weekend.
After indicating that Florian Wirtz’s return would be after Forest, the German is likely to be in contention for a place in the starting XI as the Reds aim to secure their fourth win in the league phase.
The temptation to start the former Bayer Leverkusen star persists despite his underwhelming performances since leaving the Bundesliga for English football in the summer; a couple of strong displays for DFB-Team during the recent international break reminded observers of his quality when everything clicks.
While Wirtz is an injury doubt, Alexander Isak’s involvement — or lack thereof — will depend on Slot’s willingness to risk building the Swede’s match sharpness over trusting his other high-profile summer signing: Hugo Ekitike.
Isak’s slow start at Anfield hit a new low on Saturday, when the former Newcastle United player became the first Liverpool player since Percy Saul in October 1906 to lose in his first four starts for the club.
In truth, Ekitike should get the nod at centre-forward, flanked by Mohamed Salah, nearing 50 Champions League goals, and Cody Gakpo, formerly of PSV.
Given Dominik Szoboszlai’s expected role at right-back due to injuries to Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong, the midfield seems to write itself: Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister are likely to play from the off in the team’s engine room.
Slot is expected to make a change at the back, with Andrew Robertson replacing Milos Kerkez in the starting XI, following the left-back’s continued underwhelming performances since his summer transfer from Bournemouth.
With Joe Gomez not fully trusted and Giovanni Leoni absent due to his severe knee injury, off-form Ibrahima Konate should continue at centre-back alongside Virgil van Dijk, who has been left vulnerable amid the chaos around him.
In goal, Alisson Becker is set to make his third Champions League appearance of the season and his first since September, having returned from a two-month layoff in Saturday’s defeat against Forest.
Liverpool predicted lineup:
Alisson; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Ekitike, Gakpo
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