Liverpool manager Arne Slott has a number of decisions to make as he looks ahead to the Reds’ next trip to Eintracht Frankfurt in order to avoid a fifth straight defeat. They started their Champions League season with a 3-2 win over Atlético Madrid, but lost 1-0 away to Galatasaray, in the midst of their worst run under the Dutch manager.
He will have to make do without Ryan Gravenbirch, who missed the open section of team training on Merseyside before the team headed to Germany without him. There have also been calls for Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak to be released following disappointing performances over the past few weeks. Here, Express Sport takes a look at who we think should start against the Bundesliga giants…
charlie mallam
Milos Kerkes, Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah all need to be let go, as they are all out of form. He will be replaced by Andy Robertson, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa. Jones, Chiesa and Florian Wertz deserve a chance to start after their recent impressive bench cameos.
With Ryan Gravenbirch injured, Jones acted as the deepest midfielder, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Wirtz providing the legs in front of him. In defence, Joe Gomez needs playing time and will be replaced by Ibrahima Konate. Jeremy Frimpong is also a good player to start.
I plan to deploy a 4-3-3 with Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isaku swapping positions, but Ekitike will start in the middle thanks to his link-up play. Then try letting Chiesa and Isak outrun him, in the style of Firmino-Mane-Salah.
Mamadashvili; Frimpong, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson. Szoboszlei, Jones, Wirtz. Chiesa, Ekitike, Isaac
archie griggs
Eintracht Frankfurt have conceded a lot of goals so far this season and Arne Slott may look to take advantage of that by fielding a top-class side.
Florian Wirtz will have high hopes that he can solve his goal-scoring deficit if he can play behind Hugo Ekitike, who is looking to impress against his former club. Alexander Isak struggled over the weekend and could be benched.
Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai could start in the engine room, resting Ryan Gravenbirch and Alexis Mac Allister. Milos Kerkes has had a difficult start to his Liverpool career, but Andy Robertson could be given the chance to assert himself at left-back.
The Reds desperately need a win to stop the rot and an early goal tonight will give them a great chance.
Mamadashvili; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson. Jones, Szoboszlai. Salah, Wartz, Gakpo. Equitique
Jack McEachen
He won’t like it, but Mohamed Salah needs to be left out of the starting XI. Perhaps to give the Egyptian player some rest, or perhaps to light the fire in his belly, he hasn’t been the same this season.
Federico Chiesa has performed well off the bench this year, picking up an assist against Manchester United on Sunday, and deserves a chance to show what he’s capable of from the first moment.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure has probably been tougher than many expected, but Curtis Jones’ creativity from deep will provide some help, and perhaps Chiesa’s arrival will be a boon for Jeremy Frimpong as the Italian strengthens his defense.
Perhaps playing against a German opponent will remind Florian Wirtz that he is a player worthy of his £116 million price tag.
Mamadashvili; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson. Jones, Szoboszlai. Chiesa, Wirtz, Gakpo. Equitique
