Arne Slot made just one change from the team that beat West Ham at the weekend.
The busy fixture period for the Reds is well underway as they take on Sunderland in their second game in three days, with a win still a necessity.
Arne Slot is not out of the woods just yet and his job is still not entirely safe, with the Dutchman admitting he would have to make some changes this week due to the schedule.
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Thoughts on Liverpool’s start against Sunderland?
“The balance of this Liverpool team still doesn’t look right. With Szoboszlai on the right, Joe Gomez has got to provide the width and it’s not necessarily a strength of his.”
Jamie Carragher on Liverpool’s start vs Sunderland
Liverpool v Sunderland - Premier League
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He made just one for this clash, though, with the rest starting against the Hammers in a dominant, but underwhelming performance.
After just 45 minutes too, Jamie Carragher has already suggested that there is one thing still not right about Liverpool, although fans might disagree.
Jamie Carragher says Joe Gomez ruins the balance of the team
Joe Gomez in action during Liverpool's Carabao Cup match against Southampton at Anfield.
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One of the changes Slot made ahead of the West Ham game was to bring Joe Gomez in at right-back to try and help solve the defensive issues.
It worked a treat too as he excelled while playing a big hand in keeping the clean sheet, making it no surprise he started this match as well.
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However, despite how well he did, Carragher believes that he ruined the balance of the Reds, with this evident again according to him against Sunderland.
“The balance of this Liverpool team still doesn’t look right,” he said on Sky Sports.
“With Szoboszlai on the right, Joe Gomez has got to provide the width and it’s not necessarily a strength of his.”
Gomez did his best getting forward in their last game, though, and did a fairly good job, but, of course, he is far less adept in this area than someone like Conor Bradley.
Defensively he has helped the team out, which is what fans will have wanted above anything, suggesting many fans may disagree with the former Liverpool player.
Liverpool already have enough attacking quality on the pitch
What changes would you make to Liverpool’s starting XI vs Sunderland?
Alisson
Gomez
Konate
Van Dijk
Robertson
Mac Allister
Gravenberch
Wirtz
Szoboszlai
Isak
Gakpo
Subs: Chiesa, Ekitike, Jones, Salah, Endo, Kerkez, Mamardashvili, Nyoni, Ngumoha
Alisson Becker of Liverpool applauds the fans following the Premier League match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Anfield
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Gomez has been in a few good crossing positions already, but unlike what they had with Trent Alexander-Arnold, he has not quite been able to put the perfect ball in.
However, this does not necessarily mean the balance of the team is off as they have so many attacking players on the pitch that this should not be a problem.
Conceding goals was Liverpool’s main issue, not scoring them, so Gomez’s addition to the backline has felt, and proven to be, essential.
Players like Florian Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai are the ones to look at to create the goals, suggesting Carragher is being a little harsh with his criticism.
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