Arne Slot faces major Mohamed Salah decision as Liverpool consider another overhaul
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Liverpool Echo IconSportFootballLiverpool FCLiverpool are next up against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League with Arne Slot facing some selection posersLiverpool gave themselves work to do in the Champions League when they were beaten 1-0 in their round of 16 first leg at Galatasaray on Tuesday evening. Mario Lemina scored the only goal early on as the Reds wasted a number of opportunities and will now have to embark on a recovery in the return at Anfield next Wednesday.Before then, Arne Slot's side will aim to respond by bolstering their hopes of a top-four Premier League finish when they entertain struggling Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.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!
All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook pageRobertson on standbyFrom attempting to stay in this season’s Champions League, the focus for Liverpool now turns to ensuring their place in the competition next term. And the recent return of several players and increased minutes for others indicates Slot will have no issue continuing his recent policy of heavy rotation.Should Alisson Becker not be available because of the issue that ruled him out of the trip to Istanbul, Giorgi Mamardashvili will again deputise between the sticks with Freddie Woodman on the bench.Ibrahima Konate returned to the starting line-up against Galatasaray but a poor performance means he will come under pressure from Joe Gomez for the berth alongside captain Virgil van Dijk at centre-back.
Giovanni Leoni is out for the season while Wataru Endo is recovering from ankle surgery.Gomez was right-back in Turkey but Jeremie Frimpong will be a strong candidate to start having made a cameo. Calvin Ramsay is another option having been ineligible in the Champions League but Conor Bradley won’t play again this campaign.At left-back, Milos Kerkez was replaced on the hour by Andy Robertson and will face strong competition for his regular Premier League starting role.Midfield questionSlot reverted to his title-winning midfield in Istanbul but may be minded to change after an unconvincing collective display.Ryan Gravenberch was the better of the two deeper midfielders, with Alexis Mac Allister perhaps most at risk of being dropped should either Dominik Szoboszlai or Curtis Jones be asked to play in the double pivot.Jones seems a likely starter having scored in the FA Cup win at Wolves last Friday and will also be a candidate as the number 10, with Florian Wirtz another alternative having started on the left of the attack on Tuesday on his first start in four games.With Endo and Stefan Bajcetic out, the only other option for Slot is teenager Trey Nyoni, who is yet to make a Premier League start.Salah benched?Despite goals in successive games against Wolves, Mohamed Salah’s overall underwhelming performances of late put him at risk of being benched.Rio Ngumoha, Cody Gakpo and Wirtz are all options on the right flank, although Liverpool are waiting to discover if Federico Chiesa has overcome the illness that forced him to miss the Istanbul trip.The same trio are also challenging on the opposite wing having take turns to start there in the past three games, although 17-year-old Ngumoha is another yet to start in the top flight.The versatile Gakpo is also an alternative down the centre of the attack should Hugo Ekitike be rested after featuring for the full 90 minutes at Galatasaray.Choose Liverpool Echo as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Liverpool FCArne SlotMohamed Salah