Liverpool line-ups vs Southampton as Alexis Mac Allister out and Wataru Endo starts

Liverpool return to Premier League combat as they prepare to dig in for the long winter months at Southampton on Sunday afternoon. The Reds have opened up a five-point lead over champions Manchester City at the summit having won nine of their first 11 top-flight games under Arne Slot.

The new boss, though, has a number of decisions to make after the international break, particularly given the lengthy trips made by his squad's South American contingent over the past week.

And here the ECHO writers consider what Slot may do in terms of team selection for the trip to the South Coast.

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Paul Gorst - 'Wataru Endo starts'

With few players returning to action during the international break, there doesn’t appear to be many selection dilemmas for Arne Slot to wrestle with.

The left-back option is the usual one now for Slot but I’m going to go with Kostas Tsimikas ahead of Andy Robertson and Conor Bradley will replace the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold. No fitness concerns for Virgil van Dijk, so he captains the side next to Ibrahima Konate.

In midfield, this might be a good time to rest Alexis Mac Allister, so Wataru Endo starts alongside Ryan Gravenberch and I’m giving Curtis Jones the nod over Dominik Szoboszlai.

Up top, Cody Gakpo is named ahead of Luis Diaz, while Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah keep their places.

My team (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Endo, Gravenberch; Salah, Jones, Gakpo; Nunez.

Ian Doyle - 'Alexis Mac Allister needs a rest'

If ever there's a fixture that smacks of a banana skin, it's the visit to rock-bottom Southampton. And Liverpool will have to be on their guard to avoid a damaging result ahead of a difficult run of fixtures over the next fortnight.

What, then, is Arne Slot to do? Changes are afoot, but there won't be too many beyond those perhaps enforced.

One of those is at right-back, where Conor Bradley replaces the crocked Trent Alexander-Arnold. Caoimhin Kelleher remains in goal while Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are the centre-backs. Andy Robertson's good international break with Scotland means he can be the left-back.

In midfield, Alexis Mac Allister needs a rest. Curtis Jones can drop into the deeper role alongside Ryan Gravenberch while Dominik Szoboszlai is the more advanced.

Up top, Mohamed Salah is on the right and, with Diogo Jota not yet ready, Darwin Nunez stays down the middle. And Cody Gakpo can start ahead of Luis Diaz on the left.

My team (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Nunez.

Theo Squires - 'Jones drops into a deeper midfield role'

Arne Slot will soon be able to welcome Liverpool’s walking wounded back to his ranks. But not just yet. While Harvey Elliott is available again, Trent Alexander-Arnold is sidelined with the Dutchman having to make do with predominantly the same squad he had at his disposal before the November international break.

Alisson Becker is not yet fit to return so Caoimhin Kelleher keeps his place in goal, while Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate continue at centre-back after the former overcame "minor complaints" on Netherlands duty. Andy Robertson can start at left-back after following up a positive showing against Aston Villa with a strong international break.

Curtis Jones drops into a deeper midfield role alongside Ryan Gravenberch having impressed as an eight for England. It means Dominik Szoboszlai is recalled at number 10, with Alexis Mac Allister limited to bench duty after his latest Argentina exploits.

Fellow South American Luis Diaz also drops to the bench following his own World Cup qualifying contributions in South America, with Cody Gakpo getting the nod on the left as a result. Darwin Nunez starts in attack, with Mohamed Salah completing the XI.

My team (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Nunez.