Former Liverpool right-back Jason McAteer believes the Reds should start both Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitikes against Paris Saint-Germain.
The Reds a face a huge task at Anfield on Tuesday evening, looking to overturn a 2-0 deficit in their Champions League quarter-final tie.
It is a massive challenge for Slot’s under-fire Liverpool side, with progression to the semi-finals arguably feeling as surprising as their 4-0 triumph over Barcelona in 2019, given their poor form this season.
Slot has some key decisions to make regarding his starting lineup against PSG, with Rio Ngumoha staking a claim after a Man of the Match performance in Saturday’s 2-0 win at home to Fulham in the Premier League.
Speaking on The Reaction podcast [via Empire of the Kop], McAteer called for both Isak and Ekitike to start, in order for Liverpool go “all-out” on the night:
“What would I be doing? I’d go all-out. I would go Isak and Ekitike, two up top. I don’t think they [PSG] would expect that. I’d go two up top.”
What will Liverpool’s starting XI vs. PSG be?
As mentioned, it isn’t an easy decision for Slot when it comes to his personnel against PSG, with key players vying for starts, particularly in attack.
Joe Gomez could be preferred to Jeremie Frimpong at right-back, which would admittedly be a cautious move, with Giorgi Mamardashvili, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez completing the back-line.
Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai may all be in the XI, but if they do, Slot then has a Florian Wirtz conundrum.
The German has to play, but a left-sided berth is the most likely outcome, meaning Ngumoha would have to settle for a place on the substitutes’ bench.
Mohamed Salah scored against Fulham, and it would be a shock if he returned to the bench, while Ekitike is the favourite to lead the line, even though his form isn’t too impressive.
Isak doesn’t yet have the match fitness to start a game of such magnitude, so he and Ngumoha will be tasked with making an impact in the second half, hopefully when Liverpool are still very much in the tie.