Liverpool are next up against Aston Villa in the Premier League with Arne Slot facing some selection posers
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot talks to Cody Gakpo
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot talks to Cody Gakpo(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
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Liverpool saw their hopes of Champions League qualification called into doubt once more with a miserable 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday. Ryan Gravenberch scored early on only for Enzo Fernandez to accidentally level before both sides put on a sorry spectacle.
Arne Slot's side will now aim to seal their Champions League berth and a top-four finish with victory when they make the journey down the M6 to take on Aston Villa on Friday evening.
And here we look ahead to the changes Reds head coach Slot could make when his team are next in action.
Konate wait
Slot could be bolstered by the return of as many as three players for the trip to the Midlands which, given the paucity of options at the weekend, would be deemed most welcome.
Liverpool are still waiting on Alisson Becker returning from a hamstring problem that has ruled him out for nine games, although Giorgi Mamardashvili was back on Saturday to replace third-choice Freddie Woodman between the sticks.
At left-back, Milos Kerkez has once again edged ahead of Andy Robertson and will be favourite to continue.
Joe Gomez is on standby to replace Ibrahima Konate at centre-back alongside captain Virgil van Dijk should the issue that forced the Frenchman off against Chelsea be diagnosed as more than just cramp. Giovanni Leoni has been out since September while youngster Mor Talla Ndiaye has made the bench the last two weeks.
If Konate is fit, then Gomez becomes on option at right-back to challenge Curtis Jones, who has started there the last four games. Jeremie Frimpong is an alternative although Slot revealed on Friday that Conor Bradley is still deep in rehabilitation.
Szoboszlai switch?
The midfield headache that has throbbed all season was compounded further with Florian Wirtz missing due to a stomach infection. Should he be available, the Germany international would be a strong option as the number 10 where Dominik Szoboszlai was employed against Chelsea.
Szoboszlai had spent three of the previous four games as part of the double pivot, and with neither Ryan Gravenberch nor Alexis Mac Allister overly impressing at the weekend there is a possibility that, should Wirtz be fit, the Hungarian could return there.
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Jones could become another option in all the midfield roles if he is released from right-back duties, but Wataru Endo hasn't joined full training yet and teenager Trey Nyoni still hasn't made a full Premier League debut. Stefan Bajcetic remains missing but James McConnell has been back training with the first team.
Isak on standby
Much will depend in attack on whether Mohamed Salah has recovered from the minor hamstring issue that has ruled him out for the last two games.
If available, he will be expected to return on the right flank. Otherwise, Frimpong could continue despite an under-par showing against Chelsea which could lead the door open to a number of possibilities, including Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo, Wirtz and Federico Chiesa.
Down the middle, Alexander Isak came off the bench at the weekend and would be expected to start in place of Gakpo, who would then be challenging for a role on the left with 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha - who started at the weekend - and Wirtz.
Hugo Ekitike and Jayden Danns are out but Academy duo Will Wright and Kieran Morrison were both among the substitutes on Saturday.