Arne Slot has a tough decision to make in attack as Paris Saint-Germain come to Anfield with a 2-0 aggregate lead over Liverpool in the Champions League.
Having played a back three in an attempt to counter PSG’s threat at the Parc des Princes, Slot reverted back to a 4-2-3-1 against Fulham, making five changes in preparation for arguably the biggest match of the season.
With Rio Ngumoha once again impressing along with Mo Salah – both wingers scored after sitting on the bench in Paris – the Liverpool head coach now has some tough decisions to make for the visit of PSG.
Here’s how Liverpool could line up.
Liverpool’s XI vs. PSG
We can garner some of Slot’s pre-planned choices from his selection against Fulham. For example, Hugo Ekitike didn’t even get off the bench on Saturday, so he should start Luis Enrique’s team.
In addition, given Slot said before the Fulham game that he was “worried” about Jeremie Frimpong and Joe Gomez playing multiple times in a week, we would expect the latter to replace the former at right-back.
Like Ekitike regaining his place in the team, the other all-but guaranteed changes should see Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch having only been substitutes at the weekend.
Meanwhile, Milos Kerkez should also start, leaving Andy Robertson to retake his seat on the bench after a good showing against Fulham.
Here are Slot’s likely selection choices:
Rio Ngumoha is used as an impact substitute with Liverpool likely needing firepower from the bench in the second half
Florian Wirtz takes up more of a left-sided position, with Dominik Szoboszlai pushed into a more advanced midfield role
Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch come back into the team, the pair having played 20 and 45 minutes respectively against Fulham
This is how Liverpool would line up:
Mamardashvili; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Ekitike
As much as Liverpool need to keep the back door closed, they need two goals at the very least and Slot may decide to throw caution to the wind.
It feels unlikely, but if Liverpool go gung-ho then Florian Wirtz would be best served as a No. 10, providing for Frimpong, Rio Ngumoha and Mo Salah in wide positions.
In reality, we probably won’t see Ngumoha but will line up with an attacking mindset, though that will probably include three midfielders as well as Wirtz.
Here’s how this alternate team would look:
Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Ngumoha; Ekitike
Liverpool find themselves in an interesting predicament where they don’t need to throw the proverbial kitchen sink at PSG from the off, but they do need to let loose at some point.
Game management hasn’t been a strong point for the Reds this season, but they need to use their heads as conceding first would leave Liverpool with a mountain to climb.
If Liverpool can somehow get to the 70-minute mark just one goal down on aggregate, then the cavalry, featuring Ngumoha and Isak, can hopefully set up a big finish.