Liverpool are next up against Bournemouth in the Premier League with Arne Slot facing some selection posers
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
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Liverpool extended their unbeaten run in impressive fashion with a comprehensive 3-0 win at Marseille in the Champions League on Wednesday evening. The Reds have now avoided defeat in 13 games in all competitions and are in a strong position to qualify directly to the last 16 in Europe's premier club knockout.
Arne Slot's side will now aim to address their frustrating Premier League form when they take on Bournemouth on the South Coast on Saturday evening.
And here we look ahead to the changes Reds head coach Slot could make when his team are next in action.
Robertson on standby
Liverpool have been quietly rotating in recent weeks around a core group of around 15 players that was bolstered by the return of Mohamed Salah from Africa Cup of Nations duty this week.
How much change there is in defence, though, will largely depend on whether Ibrahima Konate is available having been absent in Marseille due to personal reasons.
Joe Gomez was more than decent when stepping in at centre-back alongside skipper Virgil van Dijk in France. Wataru Endo would be next in line with teenager Giovanni Leoni out for the season.
Given Conor Bradley is similarly sidelined, Jeremie Frimpong is the only recognised senior right-back available although Calvin Ramsay is an option having been ineligible for the Champions League. Dominik Szoboszlai has also featured in the position this season.
There could, though, be a decision to make at left-back, with Milos Kerkez in fine form but Slot wary of overburdening his players during a busy January with this the seventh of nine games in the month. Andy Robertson is on standby to deputise.
Formation decision
While Slot went with a box midfield in France, it revolved around four of his regular starters in the engine room.
Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister were reunited at the base of midfield, with Endo and Curtis Jones alternatives although the versatility of Szoboszlai has been concentrated this season on other positions.
Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz were at the more advanced end of midfield in France although Jones is also an option. All three would be in contention for the number 10 role should Slot revert to 4-2-3-1.
Teenager Trey Nyoni has made just two brief appearances from the bench in the Premier League this term.
Gakpo recall?
Salah was employed alongside Hugo Ekitike on the right of a two-pronged central forward line in France with the duo expected to continue should Liverpool retain the formation.
However, Salah would be favourite to start on the right in a 4-2-3-1 with Szoboszlai and Wirtz potential alternatives. Frimpong would almost certainly be required in defence.
Ekitike is ahead of Cody Gakpo in the pecking order down the middle with Alexander Isak out for several months and Federico Chiesa a doubt after aggravating a problem during the warm-up in France.
If a left winger is required, Wirtz is the more likely starter despite Gakpo coming off the bench to score against Marseille, while 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha isn't regarded ready for a Premier League start yet.