Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Rousing the Kop or go back to LFC Live.
Liverpool have no choice but to raise their game after the return of domestic football, with a clash against Manchester United lying in wait.The Reds were desperately poor heading into the break, losing three games in a row across a damaging week.However, Liverpool have the perfect chance to get back to it a week on Sunday, as United roll into town.It is always a lively fixture against the Red Devils, and Anfield will be well up for it on a late Sunday afternoon.Arne Slot has a number of things to consider ahead of the match, chief among them being finding a resolution at centre-back.Ibrahima Konate has been in disappointing form all season long and would deserve to drop out of the team for exactly that reason. But after an injury update on Konate from France, Slot looks set to be forced into a change at centre-back regardless.Photo by Michael Steele/Getty ImagesJoe Gomez must start against Man UnitedPart of Liverpool’s problem this season has been that with Konate playing badly, there have been few alternative options for Slot.But the truth is that the Liverpool head coach does have a very capable player who can step into the heart of his defence: Joe Gomez.READ MORE: Liverpool set to rival Barcelona for ‘Malian Messi’ as top African talent begins to shine – EXCLUSIVEGomez is yet to start a Premier League match this season, but given an update from Ouest France on Thursday, that should change in a week’s time.They claim that Konate trained alone ahead of France’s match against Azerbaijan, and it seems unlikely that the 26-year-old will be risked.Struggling for fitness and in bad shape form wise, there is no reason for Konate to partner Virgil van Dijk against United.Instead, Slot has to put faith in his third-choice defender.
Liverpool reportedly thought Gomez was a £45m player as recently as one year ago. It’s time they allowed him to show it.Does Arne Slot have other options?Strangely, Slot decided to put Ryan Gravenberch at centre-back when taking Konate off against Chelsea last weekend, leaving Gomez stranded on the bench.While this did not bode well for the 28-year-old’s chances of a first Premier League start next weekend, Slot surely cannot remove Gravenberch from the midfield in one of the biggest games of the season.Wataru Endo has withdrawn from Japan duty, and could also be considered unavailable, while Giovanni Leoni’s absence will run deep into 2026.Aside from Gomez, Slot’s only genuine options would appear to either go with a half-fit, out of form Konate, or play Andy Robertson next to Van Dijk.None of these options make sense when you have a capable, experienced defender like Gomez on the sidelines.
It is time to put him in.