Liverpool manager Arne Slott has a number of decisions to make ahead of the Reds’ game against Manchester United on Sunday. The Anfield side will certainly be without goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who suffered a hamstring injury in the 0-0 loss to Galatasaray in the Champions League. Adding to Slot’s woes is the uncertainty surrounding Ibrahima Konate, who suffered a thigh injury in the Premier League game against Chelsea before the international break.
Despite joining up with the French squad, the defender played no role in the first match and returned to Merseyside ahead of the second leg. With the long-term absence of Giovanni Leoni, the slot could be left with only two fit older centre-backs in captain Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez. In midfield, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai also had successful international appearances, with Mac Allister scoring twice in Argentina’s 6–0 win over Puerto Rico, and Szoboszlai scoring an equalizer in stoppage time in the match between Hungary and Portugal.
For Mac Allister in particular, it would have been a confidence booster after failing to live up to the exceptional standards he established as the Reds climbed to Premier League glory last season.
Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenbirch formed Slott’s favorite midfield trio during his first managerial campaign and were named in the starting XI for the heartbreaking loss to Chelsea.
But with £116m summer signing Florian Wertz making an impact off the bench at Stamford Bridge following his own difficult start to the season, Slott has more to think about ahead of the match against the Red Devils.
But for former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy, Mac Allister has to be the player to keep aside, and insists Curtis Jones should also be on the bench. Murphy, who played 249 games over seven seasons on Merseyside, scoring 44 goals and providing a further 41 assists, said: “At the moment I think I’ll put Szobozlai and Grafenberch in midfield.”
“Two super athletic players who can cover a lot of ground. And I would put Wirtz in front of them. When Mohamed Salah is up high, Szobozlai can move to the right and help the full-backs defend, because obviously he has the license not to defend.”
“I think he could have defended a bit more, which was very evident against Chelsea, but I think the athleticism of those two guys is what Liverpool need.”
“It’s not that I’m not a fan of Mac Allister. I think he’s a great player. Curtis Jones is great as well. But Mac Allister missing pre-season has affected him. He’s taking his time.”
“I know physically he’s not at the same level as last season, and if you miss preseason that’s inevitable. It’s really hard to get that back. That’s my three games at the moment. I want Wirtz to play until the end because I think the magic will come.”
“I would put Szobozlai and Grafenberg behind him because they are the two most athletic of our midfielders.”
Wirtz had yet to score or score a goal since joining Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen, but at the time he could have set a British transfer record.
Therefore, there is a lot of debate surrounding the performance of the German national team players. But Murphy, who was a key member of Gerard Houllier’s treble-winning side in 2001, believes the scrutiny goes too far.
“When I was a midfielder, I used to watch to see if I was creating chances for other players,” the former England player told Wettbasis.com. “When you do that, you lose control over who converts.
“The narrative is stacked against Wirtz because the numbers we’re obsessed with in this day and age aren’t helping him. I don’t think that’s going to be a long-term problem.”
“There is some adaptation when you play a more creative player as number 10 instead of an athletic player like Szoboszlai. The biggest problem is when you don’t have the ball, because Szoboszlai is so exceptional and unique in his ability to close down the pitch and move around. There aren’t many players like him.”
“Long term, he will benefit from having more creative power in that role, especially when he’s playing low blocks and needs moments of magic against them. I think that’s going to improve.”
“I’m disappointed with the negativity around Wirtz. I understand that when you’re paying that much to come, but it’s only been seven games. He’s 22 years old and he came to one of the biggest clubs in the world with high expectations. The expectations for him are probably higher than at any other club.
“I’m not worried. I’m a big fan of his and he just needs big moments. If he has his Szoboszlai moment (against Arsenal), that won’t happen.”
“I think the Liverpool supporters will cheer him on and support him as a group so we can see the best of him.”
