Liverpool predicted line-ups and teams for the Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon
Hugo Ekitike and Joe Gomez will both hope for a place in the XI
Liverpool boss Arne Slot sprang a couple of pieces of injury news that no-one was expecting at his press conference on Friday. Ahead of the clash with Nottingham Forest, the Reds boss detailed injuries to both Conor Bradley and Florian Wirtz that will keep them out of the meeting with Sean Dyche’s men, with Bradley facing a little longer on the sidelines after his exertions with Northern Ireland.
The good news is that No.1 goalkeeper Alisson Becker is fit enough to the return to the squad after missing eight games with a hamstring injury, with Slot confirming that he will be in contention to face Forest.
But with question marks all over his side, most notably at right-back, just who will Slot select for the Anfield clash? We asked the ECHO writers what they think.
READ MORE: Arne Slot confirms Dominik Szoboszlai talks as Liverpool boss makes new position admissionREAD MORE: Liverpool hit by huge double injury blow amid Alisson Becker fitness boost
Ian Doyle
Nottingham Forest are one of only two Premier League teams Arne Slot has faced and not beaten so far as Liverpool boss (Fulham the other one in case you were wondering).
And that Forest are on a third different manager this season says much about how the campaign is going for a team now helmed by Sean Dyche. Liverpool, though, are one of the least in-form teams in the top flight and could do with a win to steady their ship.
What, then, is Reds boss Arne Slot to do?
There will be changes. And not all of them will be overly welcome.
One that is comes in goal, where Alisson Becker is now back available. Milos Kerkez will have to step in for a presumably exhausted Andy Robertson at left-back – the Scotland captain sat out training on Thursday due to a family funeral – while Ibrahima Konate continues alongside Virgil van Dijk at centre-back.
Right-back, though, is a much trickier call, and I’d go for the safety of Joe Gomez on this occasion.
It means there isn’t a lot of alteration elsewhere. Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister are the double pivot in midfield with Dominik Szoboszlai the number 10.
And up top, Hugo Ekitike leads the line with Mohamed Salah on the right and Cody Gakpo on the left.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike.
Mark Jones
The injuries to Conor Bradley and Florian Wirtz did come as something of a slap in the face ahead of the return to domestic action, but regardless of their form before the international break Liverpool should still have enough to beat Nottingham Forest at home.
Alisson’s return is big, and while I am tempted to wrap him in cotton wool seeing as he is so important, it feels as though he just has to go straight back into side. There may be an argument for resting him for PSV Eindhoven in midweek to ease the strain on that troublesome hamstring, but that’s another matter.
In defence, we’ll come to that all-important right-back role shortly, but it’ll be Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk in the centre, and I’m tempted to give Milos Kerkez a game on the left after Andy Robertson’s big week on the pitch and family funeral off it. Kerkez’s confidence needs to be rebuilt slowly, and there’s no reason why he can’t rotate effectively with the Scot in the coming weeks given the fixtures.
So, right-back. Dominik Szoboszlai did it so well earlier in the season, but with no Wirtz he’ll be needed in midfield, so I’d go with Curtis Jones reprising a role we saw him take up in the closing weeks of the title winning campaign. Then it’s Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Szoboszlai in the middle.
In attack Mohamed Salah plays, obviously, and with Arne Slot not sounding too happy about Alexander Isak failing to pick up many minutes for Sweden I’ll go with Cody Gakpo on the left and Hugo Ekitike through the middle.
Isak can then come off the bench with an eye on him starting against PSV if everything goes swimmingly. And of course it will, won’t it?
My Team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike.
Theo Squires
Liverpool return to action after the November international break at home to Nottingham Forest, eager to return to winning ways after that dismal loss at Man City. And while they look set to be bolstered by the return of Alisson Becker in goal, Arne Slot’s hand has once again been depleted by injury.
The Reds find themselves without a natural right-back after Conor Bradley’s latest injury, leaving Slot to turn to makeshift options to fill the berth.
Joe Gomez would perhaps be the best option, but with Slot pointing out Liverpool need to manage him carefully following his own injury woes and lack of game-time, plus the Reds’ already limited numbers at centre-back, I wouldn’t start him for this one.
Instead, Dominik Szoboszlai can reluctantly return to right-back, with the rest of the back four remaining unchanged.
The change of role for the Hungarian does mean a new inclusion at No.10 though. And with Florian Wirtz also sidelined because of a muscle injury, I’d go for Hugo Ekitike in that slightly deeper role with Cody Gakpo returning on the left.
Slot keeps saying the France international is an option there so let’s see what he can do. And it would at least also open the door to fit him in the same starting XI as Alexander Isak once again, with the Swede getting the nod to lead the line following his own return from injury.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Ekitike, Gakpo; Isak.
