Liverpool faces its toughest test yet as it returns to Premier League action against Chelsea later today.
Arne Slot’s side still sits top of the table after Arsenal’s defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday, although they will be expecting Manchester City to leapfrog them ahead of kick-off as Pep Guardiola’s side faces off against Wolves.
Nevertheless, the Reds will be hoping to lay down something of a marker today. Slot has been quick to point out his side has not yet faced a side that will be expected to challenge at the top of the table, with today offering his first such test.
He will of course have to take on Chelsea without his No.1 goalkeeper after Alisson suffered another hamstring injury at Crystal Palace before the international break. Having missed that game through illness, Caoimhin Kelleher will return in goal, with Vitezslav Jaros offering backup on the bench.
The biggest question mark in today’s side is offered up by Alexis Mac Allister. The midfielder is a doubt after missing training following his return from international duty with Argentina, having played just over an hour against Bolivia during the week.
Mac Allister has been undertaking fitness work away from his teammates after picking up a groin problem at Palace, but looks as though he will play some part today against Chelsea after dropping a hint on social media. Whether Slot risks him from the start is the question.
Given his importance to Liverpool, and the fact there have been doubts over his fitness recently, it perhaps makes most sense for Mac Allister to take a spot on the bench, with new dad Curtis Jones handed a second straight start instead.
By this point, we know who makes up what would be considered Slot’s strongest side, with the rest of the team virtually picking itself. Ibrahima Konate will partner Virgil van Dijk in defense, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson on either flank.
Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai will join Jones in midfield, while Mohamed Salah takes his usual spot on the right of the attack and Diogo Jota gets the nod over Darwin Nunez up front. That leaves just one spot up for grabs on the left.
It will be a straight shootout between Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz for that place, with the former having got the nod at Palace just before the break. Diaz though is perhaps just ahead of him in the pecking order, and having scored for his country last week, the Colombian should reclaim his spot in the side today.
Liverpool predicted team vs Chelsea: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Jota.
