Liverpool team news confirmed from Villa Park as Alexander Isak misses out and Mohamed Salah returns to the bench
Liverpool striker Alexander Isak misses out against Aston Villa
Liverpool striker Alexander Isak misses out against Aston Villa (Image: Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
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Alexander Isak and Jeremie Frimpong are missing from the Liverpool squad as Mohamed Salah returns to the bench at Aston Villa.
Isak only returned for last week's draw with Chelsea after sitting out the defeat at Manchester United due to a minor groin strain.
Liverpool are still hopeful of the Sweden international featuring against Brentford in the final match of the campaign on Sunday week along with Frimpong, who also has a minor issue.
But having only made his comeback from a four-month lay-off with a broken leg at the start of April, Isak is not risked at Villa Park as Liverpool aim to secure Champions League qualification with victory against the Europa League finalists.
It means Cody Gakpo once more leads the line with Dominik Szoboszlai expected to fill in on the right side of the front three and Rio Ngumoha off the left. It's the first time the 17-year-old has started successive Premier League games.
Salah is named among the substitutes, as expected, after a hamstring injury sustained in the victory over Crystal Palace at Anfield on April 25. The Egyptian has missed the last two matches with the problem.
Joe Gomez starts on the right side of the back four and Milos Kerkez begins at left-back but there is no place in the side for Alisson Becker, who remains sidelined. Giorgi Mamardashvili therefore continues in goal for the Reds. Freddie Woodman is on the bench.
Florian Wirtz returns to the squad after missing the Chelsea game with a stomach issue. Slot confirmed on Thursday that the attacking midfielder is on antibiotics for his issue but after resuming training on Thursday, Wirtz is restored to the bench.
Ibrahima Konate partners Virgil van Dijk at centre-back as Curtis Jones moves into midfield alongside Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch.
Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones; Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Ngumoha. Subs: Woodman, Robertson, Wirtz, Salah, Chiesa, Nyoni, McConnell, Ndiaye, Wright.
Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Pau, Digne; Tielemans, Lindelof; McGinn, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins. Subs: Bizot, Barkley, Garcia, Abraham, Sancho, Luiz, Maatsen, Bogarde, Bailey.
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