Liverpool entertain Sunderland in the Premier League on Wednesday night, and we've asked our writers to pick the Reds XI they'd choose
Mohamed Salah warms up with Alexander Isak (Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Mohamed Salah warms up with Alexander Isak (Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts - CameraSport via Getty Images)
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After emerging from Sunday's trip to West Ham with a much-needed three points, Liverpool return to Anfield on Wednesday night knowing that they'll need to back up that victory if any idea that a corner has been turned is to have any value.
However the Reds headed to east London off the back to successive home defeats to Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven by an aggregate score of 7-1, and so there is sure to be a feeling a trepidation among some supporters who make their way to L4.
Add to that the displays of Wednesday's opponents Sunderland, who come into the game one point ahead of the Reds in the table after arriving into the Premier League like a breath of fresh air this season.
How should Arne Slot line the Reds up for the challenge ahead then? Our ECHO writers have their say.
Ian Doyle
Liverpool are playing again this evening. And, as you may have noticed, they actually won last time out. Sunderland are the visitors to Anfield in the Premier League with Arne Slot facing a number of head-scratchers regards team selection.
What, then, is the Reds boss to do?
I'd be limiting the changes from the start but in the knowledge a number of players can make an impact from the bench.
In goal it remains Alisson Becker, however. And Joe Gomez can most definitely continue at right-back. Centre-backs are still Ibrahima Konate alongside skipper Virgil van Dijk, but I'd have Andy Robertson in at left-back for this one.
Ryan Gravenberch can be joined by Dominik Szoboszlai at the base of midfield, and Florian Wirtz can see what he can do in the number 10 role again.
Up top, Hugo Ekitike is back in down the centre, with Mohamed Salah returning on the right and Cody Gakpo on the left.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.
Paul Gorst
The second of three games in six days might see one or two tweaks for Arne Slot's Liverpool lineup tonight. But given the recent form of the Reds, the head coach is not in a position where he can make too many alterations to a side still finding its confidence.
In an ideal world, a visit from a promoted side for a midweek night might be the opportunity to rest and rotate, safe in the knowledge that the squad has the quality to get the job done. But Sunderland have been superb this season and Liverpool have lost their last two games at Anfield by a scoreline of 7-1. So nothing can be taken for granted here.
As a result, I'm asking Joe Gomez to go to the well once more after his excellent return to a Premier League lineup at West Ham United. His last two league starts came 11 months apart and were both at the London Stadium, so let's see if the long-serving and versatile defender can excel at right-back once more back at Anfield. Given the demands over the next month or so, this is an ideal one for Andy Robertson to return for Milos Kerkez.
In midfield, I am going to give Alexis Mac Allister a rest in place of Curtis Jones. Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai keep their places and Florian Wirtz starts off the left and is encouraged to roam in central areas to wreak havoc. It would be great to see the Germany playmaker build on Sunday's performance.
Again, with thoughts of the fixture list dominating, Alexander Isak is rested for Hugo Ekitike and there's a start for Mohamed Salah too. I get the idea of Isak's confidence rising after his goal at West Ham but it would be risky to throw him back in tonight, he can rest up for Leeds United and is an option off the bench also.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Ekitike.
Theo Squires
For the first time in his entire Liverpool career, Mohamed Salah’s previously untouchable starting status is at question. The Reds were improved as the Egyptian watched on against West Ham as they returned to winning ways.
It would be a bold call to name him on the substitutes bench again. But with Sunderland the visitors to Anfield, it is not one I am prepared to make. They are having a great season, but surely Arne Slot can find a way to get one of his star forwards into the game for this one?
Besides, for all the talk about his defensive work-rate this season, let’s see how he gets on with a more natural defender in Joe Gomez behind him.
Alexis Mac Allister can drop to the bench to make way for the Egyptian, with Dominik Szoboszlai moving into midfield to partner Ryan Gravenberch.
Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz can continue through the middle. There have been promising glimpses from their partnership and we’ve not seen enough of it so far.
I would make one further change though, with Andy Robertson coming in at left-back. Slot keeps warning us how Milos Kerkez is needing to adjust to the increased work-load at Anfield, so it makes sense to rotate for this latest midweek encounter after he was forced off with cramp in the capital.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.
Mark Jones
It feels as though we've been waiting for momentum from Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak all season, so after a good performance and a goal respectively at West Ham I'd keep them in the team here. That obviously has a knock on effect elsewhere though, but we'll come to that.
First, Alisson stays in goal and I'd pick the same back four as the one that featured at West Ham. I did consider bringing Andy Robertson in, but the momentum argument is also true for Milos Kerkez and he played well at the weekend. Plus Leeds might be a game for Robertson so I'd have an eye on that.
Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai start in midfield, even though the Hungarian could do with a rest at some point, surely, and then a fired up Mohamed Salah comes back into the side on the right, with Cody Gakpo on the left after his excellent performance at West Ham.
And then it's over to Wirtz and Isak to try and replicate what they produced in east London. A fine performance from the German, a goal or two from the Swede, and hopefully everyone goes home happy.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.