All eyes will be on Mohamed Salah once again this weekend in what he has suggested could be his final appearance for Liverpool.
Whether he will get the chance to even make it onto the pitch at Anfield remains to be seen, with Arne Slot holding the Egyptian’s fate in his hands.
Liverpool fans are split on whether Salah should be brought back in after Tuesday’s win over Inter Milan, but from a purely footballing perspective it would make little sense.
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Arne Slot might be making a mistake if he doesn’t play Salah…
Salah's stats against Brighton
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The Reds did well without Salah in a new system against Inter, finally pairing Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak up front and flooding the midfield in both an attacking and defensive sense.
But if Slot’s decision to continue leaving Salah out should be relatively straightforward, there are three other decisions for the Dutchman to make against Brighton which are decidedly less so.
1. Right-back conundrum raised once again
It was a surprise to see Joe Gomez start at right-back against Inter, with Conor Bradley reduced to a bit-part role.
Bradley is suspended against Brighton after going over the maximum number of yellow cards allowed.
Arne Slot, head coach of Liverpool cheers fans at the end of the UEFA Champions League football match Inter Milan vs Liverpool at San Siro
Photo by Piero Cruciatti/Anadolu via Getty Images
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Gomez would seem like a natural option to go again, but the 28-year-old’s fitness is notoriously brittle, and it might be too much of an ask for him to play twice in five days.
Alternatively, Slot could decide to stick either Curtis Jones or Dominik Szoboszlai back in as an emergency right-back, but after both played so well in Milan, that would not feel like a best-case scenario.
2. Stick or twist with the new system?
Much of Slot’s other selections for Brighton will depend on what he chooses to do with Liverpool’s system.
Cody Gakpo is definitely injured once again, and Federico Chiesa’s illness makes it seem likely that Slot will choose to retain his 442 diamond formation against the Seagulls.
Liverpool have an excellent record against Brighton! 🙌
Arne Slot applauds fans after Liverpool's Premier League match against Leeds United at Elland Road.
Credit: Robbie Jay Barratt/AMA/Getty Images
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But given Brighton’s tactical assuredness, perhaps the Liverpool boss would be wiser to lean back into a formation his players are more familiar with?
Although they picked up a much-needed Champions League win, the Reds are in real need of doing the same in the Premier League. Slot must employ anything that makes that more likely.
3. Who makes way for Florian Wirtz?
Assuming Slot does stick with the same formation which downed Inter, there should be at least one change to the starting XI: Florian Wirtz must return.
Wirtz was vital in getting Liverpool over the line at San Siro, winning the penalty which sealed the game late on.
One of the more advanced midfield roles would fit him like a glove, and Slot must decide who makes way from his starters in Milan.
Szoboszlai and Gravenberch are both too important to their lines to make way, meaning it will likely be a straight shootout between Jones and Alexis Mac Allister.
While he may be fired up to play against his former side, Jones’ performance in midweek mean he should get the nod. Whatever Slot chooses, Wirtz must come back in.
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