UPDATE: The Official Team News is out! [Click here for the Confirmed Liverpool Lineup & Reaction].
Arne Slot faces a defining decision ahead of Liverpool vs Brighton: Does he recall Mohamed Salah, or stick with the "four-midfielder" system that dismantled Inter Milan?
Salah's future with the club depends on an important conversation Slot plans to have with him on Friday morning.
"The outcome of that conversation will determine the future. The next time I speak about Mo should be with him, not in here (with the media)," Slot said
With Salah’s future in doubt and Conor Bradley suspended, the Reds will be forced into defensive changes at Anfield as they only have 13 players outfield players with Senior Team experience available. Joe Gomez is the logical replacement at right-back, though Dominik Szoboszlai offers a versatile option if Slot decides to push Milos Kerkez further forward.
Jeremie Frimpong remains out with a hamstring injury, though reports suggest he could make the bench. As confirmed, Conor Bradley serves a one-game suspension, while Giovanni Leoni remains a long-term absentee (ACL). Arne Slot revealed in his presser on Tuesday that Isak suffered a knock and Federico Chiesa, has been ill, which is why he did not make the trip to Inter Milan. Wataru Endo has also suffered an ankle injury while Cody Gakpo has injured his hamstring.
For a full breakdown of every absentee and their expected return, check our Liverpool FC Injury List & Suspensions Tracker.
The Defence: With Bradley suspended, Joe Gomez is the frontrunner to start. If he isn't fit for 90 minutes, expect Szoboszlai to drift into a hybrid wing-back role. With Endo sidelined with an injury, Trey Nyoni could see some time on the pitch in a deep role, but he is largely untested
The Attack: Isak or Ekitiké? Arne Slot is unlikely to change the winning formula from Milan. The partnership between Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitiké is blossoming, and they need minutes together.
"This is really only their second game together," Slot said. "The more minutes they have together, the better. Alex picked up a knock in the first half last game, but hopefully he can go. If not, we will have to make adjustments. But you will see Alex and Hugo paired together more and more and they will get better."
The Salah Question Unless Slot offers an olive branch, expect Salah to start on the bench or not even be named to the team sheet. Based on the tone of the presser, if Slot does not hear what he wants to in the conversation with Salah, the Egyptian King has likely played his last match with the club. If he does start, Isak would likely drop out, but that seems less likely as time goes on.
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