Darwin Nunez decision looms as Arne Slot ponders untried Liverpool experiment
After the thrill of a stoppage-time winner against Brentford in the Premier League, Liverpool now turn their attention to the other division they lead when they welcome Lille to Anfield in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
The Reds have so far had a flawless campaign in the revamped European Cup under Arne Slot, winning all six of their fixtures to sail to the summit of the 32-team table.
Such progress means the upcoming games with Lille and Eredivisie outfit PSV this month have less pressure heading into them, but Slot will be keen to continue the winning sequence to avoid a potentially more difficult assignment in the knockout stages, There's also the small matter of a Champions League win being worth around £2m to the club's coffers, which is not to be sniffed at.
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With Ipswich Town to come this weekend in the Premier League, the visit from the French outfit is not as important to many, but Slot won't be of that view until after full time on Tuesday evening at Anfield.
As a result, there are unlikely to be too many changes to the side that beat Brentford but there are maybe three key areas for discussion in defence. Did Kostas Tsimikas do enough to justify continued inclusion at the expense of Andy Robertson? The former got the nod over the Scotland captain at Brentford after his cameo at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night and while Bees star Bryan Mbeumo was lively, Greek international Tsimikas can point to a clean sheet.
Robertson has not hit the heights of some of his previous years at Anfield so far and there has been increased transfer speculation over a potential new left-back as a result. The former Hull City star may return for this one, however. Tsimikas may be kept in reserve for the weekend.
Ibrahima Konate could continue his partnership with Virgil van Dijk but it would be no shock to see Jarell Quansah named in his place to ease the burden on the France international, who only returned from injury a little over a fortnight ago.
Might this be an opportunity for Conor Bradley at right-back? It would afford Trent Alexander-Arnold a rest before that visit from Ipswich on Saturday and Bradley could use the minutes.
In midfield, Wataru Endo might come under consideration but Slot has shown no real willingness to drop out Ryan Gravenberch or Alexis Mac Allister if he doesn't feel it is needed. Curtis Jones is an option in a deeper role and after his cameo off the bench at the Gtech Stadium, Harvey Elliott must surely be staking a serious claim for inclusion? The midfielder has revealed his frustrations at being on the fringes so far under Slot and this feels like an ideal juncture to offer him just his third start of the campaign, in that No.10 role. Dominik Szoboszlai can rest up.
Elliott has yet to be deployed as the central attacking midfielder in Slot's system in a competitive game but having helped break open the locks at Brentford, is it finally time for the Reds boss to grant his player the opportunity in his favoured position? It's certainly worth experimenting with at least.
Up top, Darwin Nunez has to start, doesn't he? The Uruguay international was the match-winner in west London on Saturday afternoon with a show-stealing brace off the bench in stoppage time. He simply has to be rewarded with a leading of the line in the Champions League while Diogo Jota continues to work on his fitness.
Luis Diaz may be recalled to his more traditional left-wing spot but Cody Gakpo will be vying for the same position. Mohamed Salah will be aiming to put his recent barren run - by his own otherworldly standards - behind him by starting on the right of the front three. Federico Chiesa is an option off the bench once more after his own cameo at the weekend. The Italy international is getting fitter and fitter by the game, but is unlikely to start his first Champions League game for the Reds just yet.
Salah has scored 19 of his 21 goals this term in the second half of games and will be aiming to redress than balance from the off against Bruno Genesio's side. The French outfit did beat Real Madrid earlier this season in the Champions League and have only lost one of their six games in total. Slot won't be taking them lightly.