Liverpool are back in action on Wednesday night when they welcome PSV Eindhoven to Anfield in the Champions League
Federico Chiesa and Joe Gomez will both be eyeing rare starts for Liverpool
Federico Chiesa and Joe Gomez will both be eyeing rare starts for Liverpool
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Liverpool return to the scene of the crime on Wednesday, and will run back out at Anfield to face PSV Eindhoven five days on from Saturday's dreadful 3-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest.
Thankfully for the Reds, while their Premier League form has taken a dramatic nosedive they've been largely consistent in the Champions League, winning three out of four matches including both home games against the Madrid pair of Atletico and Real.
PSV might not represent the same calibre of opponent, but the Reds will have to be up for a game that offers a perfect chance to put smiles back on faces ahead of the weekend's Premier League trip trip to West Ham.
How should Arne Slot play it though? We asked our ECHO writers for their XIs.
Ian Doyle
Bad news for Liverpool fans: they are playing tonight. Good news for Liverpool fans: it's in the Champions League.
Europe has offered respite in recent months from the horrors of the Premier League, and PSV Eindhoven are the visitors this evening. What, then, is Reds boss Arne Slot to do?
There actually isn't a lot of scope for change given the absences and the worries over fitness and, well, the fact some of the form of the players isn't great.
That means Alisson Becker stays in goal, and the wayward Ibrahima Konate has to continue at centre-back alongside skipper Virgil van Dijk. Milos Kerkez can remain left-back, but Curtis Jones has to move to right-back.
Dominik Szoboszlai instead shifts to a number 10 role, with Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister in behind him in midfield. And up top, Hugo Ekitike comes in to start down the middle with Mohamed Salah on the right and former PSV man Cody Gakpo on the left.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike.
Paul Gorst
The Champions League has been a different beast for struggling Liverpool this season. While the Premier League title defence is unravelling quicker than anyone would have ever imagined, the Reds are three wins from four in the revamped European Cup.
So far, teams who are willing to try and play less direct are playing into Liverpool hands and another performance this evening will be a big step towards qualification.
Joe Gomez comes in at right-back for tonight. Arne Slot admitted he has been playing through the aid of an injection recently but if he is considered fit then he starts. Andy Robertson also returns at left-back.
Hugo Ekitike gets the nod over Cody Gakpo on the left side. I don’t expect Slot will do similar but I’d like to see Ekitike and Alexander Isak start a game together once more.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Szoboszlai, Ekitike; Isak.
Theo Squires
After losing to Nottingham Forest in hefty fashion, Liverpool have to respond against PSV Eindhoven. What should be, on paper at least, their most straightforward Champions League league phase match is now a crucial must-win.
The Reds started reasonably well against Forest, but fell apart after falling behind. With a handful of players struggling, I’d make a number of changes against PSV as a result.
Joe Gomez can come in at right-back with Liverpool needing a more natural option in the berth. And given the Reds’ defensive woes this season, fingers crossed a more conservative option can help shore up the backline.
While I’d be using the England international at full-back, I’d be making a change alongside Virgil van Dijk too. Ibrahima Konate’s form this season remains a concern and he struggled again on Saturday. I’d take him out of the firing line as a result, with Wataru Endo instead given the nod at centre-back. Meanwhile, Andy Robertson can come back in at left-back.
Dominik Szoboszlai has been Liverpool’s star player so far this season, and is restored to the number 10 role in the ongoing absence of Florian Wirtz. No makeshift right-back showing tonight please!m Curtis Jones can keep his place in the engine-room though, partnering Ryan Gravenberch as Alexis Mac Allister drops to the bench.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah has been rotated in the Champions League at times this season but keeps his place after being the best of a poor bunch against Forest. But it’s all-change alongside him in attack. Hugo Ekitike returns to lead the line in place of Alexander Isak, while Federico Chiesa can be handed a rare start on the left in place of Cody Gakpo after a number of lively cameo appearances off the bench this season.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Gomez, Endo, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Szoboszlai, Chiesa; Ekitike.
Mark Jones
Arne Slot really does not want to pick Joe Gomez at right-back does he? He might have to eventually, and could do here, but that revelation about the injections in his knee just makes you think he won't want him in a position where he'll be asked to get up and down the pitch and contribute to attacks. Centre-back is a different matter though.
This isn't about making Ibrahima Konate a scapegoat, but he really did seem to have his head burned out on Saturday. Regardless of his form I'd rest him for this one, play Gomez and then see where the land lies ahead of Sunday's trip to West Ham, where Gomez started last season (before going off injured).
Elsewhere I'd be telling Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai to share the right-back role as they did for the, actually quite good, first half hour on Saturday, with Jones down as the nominal starter in the position. Milos Kerkez starts on the left too, but with an eye on half an hour for Andy Robertson.
Then I'd apply the same logic for Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak too, with the Swede coming into the game later on when it is hopefully a bit more stretched and he might get a few chances.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Jones, Gomez, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike.