Arne Slot considers tough Hugo Ekitike decision as Liverpool wait on two players
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Liverpool are next up against Brighton in the Premier League with Arne Slot facing some selection posersLiverpool breathed new life into their spluttering season with a rampant Champions League win over Galatasaray on Wednesday evening. Dominik Szoboszlai, Hugo Ekitike, Ryan Gravenberch and Mohamed Salah all scored as the Reds wiped out last week's 1-0 loss at Istanbul by winning their round of 16 second leg 4-0 at Anfield.Arne Slot's side will aim to increase their chances of qualifying for next season's Champions League by moving - albeit it temporarily - into the top four with victory at Brighton in Saturday's early kick-off.And here we look ahead to the changes Reds head coach Slot could make when his team are next in action.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE!
Academy youngster Amara Nallo was on the bench in midweek.If fit, Gomez will also be in contention at right-back with Jeremie Frimpong, who has started the last two games, still having his minutes managed. Curtis Jones ended the game on Wednesday in the position.And at left-back, a fine performance from Milos Kerkez against Galatasaray makes him favourite to retain his place ahead of Andy Robertson.Midfield change again?Slot tweaked the formation to more of a diamond midfield in midweek and it paid dividends, although the personnel were not dissimilar to what may have been expected regardless of tactical approach.Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister, having been the double pivot in the engine room for much of the campaign, instead were the base and tip respectively with Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz operating either side in withdrawn wide roles.Should Slot persist, there is scope for rotation with Jones filling any of those four positions.
Stefan Bajectic is yet to resume for the under-21s this season.Gakpo on standbyMohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike were ostensibly the two forwards on Wednesday on the right and left of the central positions.It was a change that worked, although much will now depend on whether Salah has overcome the issue that forced him off during the final quarter. While both Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa are versatile enough to feature as part of a two-pronged attack, they have been utilised elsewhere throughout their Anfield careers.Slot's going back to the usual attack would leave Gakpo and teenager Rio Ngumoha competing for a place on the left, with Gakpo also chief alternative to Ekitike down the middle with the Frenchman being regularly rotated of late.Should Salah be absent, there would be plenty of options on the right with Frimpong, Gakpo, Szoboszlai and Wirtz all having started there for the club.