After three consecutive defeats, Arne Slot must go again with a similar team as Liverpool take on West Ham in the Premier League.
Normally when a team goes on a losing streak, the players responsible would be at risk of losing their place in the side.
However, it doesn’t really feel like that is the case under Slot, who has a small squad with fringe players apparently not match sharp.
One solution would be to play them more often, of course, but in light of having not made that decision earlier in the season, we expect Slot to stick with a similar team to that which has been underperforming.
Here’s how Liverpool could line up.
Team news
Here’s what Slot revealed in his press conference:
Alisson is back in training so “we hope and expect him to be available at the weekend”
Florian Wirtz “could train with the team on Saturday” but remains a doubt for the match
Hugo Ekitike‘s back problem “shouldn’t have to be a big issue,” but “games come fast so let’s see for the weekend”
Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley remain out injured
Liverpool’s XI vs. West Ham
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 27, 2025: Liverpool's Ibrahima Konaté during the FA Premier League match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Selhurst Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
One of the criticisms levelled at Slot has been his unwillingness to drop Ibrahima Konate, despite the Frenchman’s constant individual errors.
In fairness to the coach, though, he hasn’t got a lot of options. Joe Gomez has been in and out of training, while there aren’t any obvious academy candidates to fill Giovanni Leoni‘s place in the squad as backup.
It means he will likely go again with Virgil van Dijk and Konate as his centre-back pairing, though we could see a change at left-back as Andy Robertson replaces Milos Kerkez.
Ekitike’s back issue against PSV has left him in doubt for this one, so Alexander Isak should come back in to play with Cody Gakpo and Mo Salah in attack.
Thankfully, Alisson will be back between the posts, having recovered from the illness that kept him out on Wednesday.
Here are Slot’s likely selection options:
This is how Liverpool would line up:
Alisson; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Gakpo, Isak
As mentioned, Gomez hasn’t been fully fit to be able to play of late, but he could now come back in to play against West Ham.
This is arguably more likely to be at right-back than centre-half, though, meaning Jones could move into midfield, giving one of Gravenberch, Szoboszlai or Mac Allister – the latter probably – a rest.
Another alternative is to continue playing Kerkez at left-back, even though Robertson has been arguably the better performer this season.
Szoboszlai and Jones play in midfield together for just the third time this season
Salah maintains his record of starting every Premier League match this season
Gomez starts his first non-Carabao Cup match of the campaign
Here’s how this alternate team would look:
Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Jones; Salah, Gakpo, Isak
It seems wild to say that a team featuring Virgil van Dijk, Mo Salah and Alexander Isak looks uninspiring, but football is a strange game and Liverpool are enduring tough times.
If the Reds are to at least start scoring goals again, they need to find a way of getting their Swedish striker into the game.
If Isak comes out with a similar record to the 14 touches he managed against Nottingham Forest, then Liverpool very likely will be going home with zero points.