Arne Slot starts two star signings and benches £35m midfielder: Liverpool’s predicted XI vs Crystal Palace
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Liverpool travel to Selhurst Park to face an in-form Crystal Palace, who have had a recent victory over the Reds, in the Saturday afternoon kick-off.
Arne Slot’s side have been on an excellent unbeaten run in all competitions, and the Premier League is where they have shown their championship quality, winning all five games with a five-point gap to their closest rivals.
The way they have played has been criticised, given a performance such as last weekend’s against Everton was a display of two halves, given they started so well but ended quite poorly against their neighbours.
However, they will have to be almost perfect for 90 minutes against this Oliver Glasner team, who have not tasted defeat as of yet this season with his Palace side fifth in the table.
They have been held to three draws in their opening fixtures, but pose a threat to Liverpool following their win in the Community Shield on penalties in August.
It will be a question of whether the previous champions can maintain their flawless start or if their defence will be derailed by the Eagles, who may well soar to new heights.
Here is the XI we expect Slot to pick.
Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
While it was great to see the debut of Giorgi Mamardashvili in Tuesday’s League Cup fixture against Southampton, his performance will not be able to unseat one of the world’s best goalkeepers in Alisson Becker.
A pair who definitely will not be split this season in defence are Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, who have looked more formidable as the season has progressed.
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After the injury to Giovanni Leoni, it will be more important than ever to make sure both remain fit, with Joe Gomez the only out-and-out centre-back option available currently.
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A different right-back to start this Palace game, following the Wembley loss, with Jeremie Frimpong more likely to make an appearance off the bench, while Conor Bradley will keep his place as the first choice at the club.
A man who will return on the left-hand side for this game, though, will be Milos Kerkez, who will have to be on top form for this fixture following his struggles with Ismaila Sarr last time around.
After his performances all season, but especially against Everton, Ryan Gravenberch will continue to prove that he is one of the Reds’ best players and will play a key part in their future success.
However, it is likely that Alexis Mac Allister, who featured last weekend, will be dropped to the bench due to his fitness.
Replacing him will be star signing Florian Wirtz, who was rested for the Merseyside Derby but will be important in attempting to break down and find gaps in the Palace defence.
Similar to Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai has proved that he is an integral and versatile player, but instead of filling in at right-back, he will start in his favoured position in the middle of the park.
While it was not his finest stint on the left flank against Everton, Cody Gakpo will likely remain even with Federico Chiesa’s quality performance against the Saints on Tuesday, but expect an appearance later on from the Italian.
The biggest change in the forward line for this fixture will be at striker after Hugo Ekitike was sent off after being awarded two yellow cards, with his second offence, taking off his shirt, garnering criticism from most corners of the football press.
READ MORE: Arne Slot reveals what Liverpool staff all think about Hugo Ekitike behind closed doors
But that is of no matter for Slot, who will have to instead make do by awarding Alexander Isak his first start in the league for his new side after scoring his inaugural goal for the club in the Carabao Cup.
Even with the slight change in the forward line this weekend, Mohamed Salah will maintain his place as the only player needed on Liverpool’s right-hand side, as he continues to make history at the club.
Liverpool predicted XI to face Crystal Palace