Arne Slot is almost certain to recall both Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike for Liverpool’s home clash with Burnley, but faces a decision over his right-hand side.
After seeing off a resilient Barnsley side in the FA Cup on Monday night, Liverpool return to the Premier League on Saturday looking to extend their unbeaten run.
Now 11 games without defeat, the Reds are still 14 points behind league leaders Arsenal and eight off the two sides between them, Aston Villa and Man City.
Liverpool team news vs. Burnley: 7 out, Ngumoha doubt
Victory over Burnley would at least keep the pressure on Villa as Liverpool look to cement themselves in the top four – and Slot can name a strong side at Anfield.
Liverpool Predicted XI vs. Burnley: 5 changes
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, January 4, 2026: Liverpool's Jeremie Frimpong celebrates his side's second goal during the FA Premier League match between Fulham FC and Liverpool FC at Craven Cottage. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Though the win over Barnsley came five days previous, Slot and his medical staff will still have fitness to consider when putting together the side to face Burnley.
Three players who could drop out having played 90 minutes against the League One side are Andy Robertson, Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo.
Gakpo will likely be replaced by Florian Wirtz on the left wing, while two others to come out – Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha – should make way for Jeremie Frimpong, moving forward from right-back, and Hugo Ekitike.
Pushing Frimpong into attack should see Joe Gomez shift to right-back, having only played an hour against Barnsley, while Milos Kerkez and Ryan Gravenberch can come in for Robertson and Jones.
With five changes to the side from the FA Cup, Liverpool would line up like this:
Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Frimpong, Wirtz, Ekitike
However there are other options to rejig the side, particularly if Gomez is not deemed fit enough to start two games in a week after his recent hamstring injury.
**Dominik Szoboszlai**‘s versatility could see him instead adopt a role on the right wing with Frimpong staying at right-back.
With Liverpool’s No. 8 joining the attack there could be an opportunity for Jones to keep his place as part of a midfield with Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister.
That would see the following XI:
Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Ekitike
That would of course leave Gakpo out of the running, and Slot has shown his reliance on his fellow Dutchman by starting him in each of the last three games – however that was by necessity with Ekitike sidelined.
Despite the added blow of Bradley’s season-ending knee injury, Liverpool’s options are clearly improving ahead of the return of Mohamed Salah next week.
And it should be the bare minimum that a club of this level has the depth to send on the likes of Gakpo, Jones and Chiesa if required without stretching the squad too thin.