Liverpool line-ups vs Man United as Hugo Ekitike and Alexis Mac Allister decisions made
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Manchester United may not be the force they were and Liverpool are coming into the game on the back of three successive defeats but, with 40 championships between them, there's no doubt the clash of the bitter North West rivals remains the most anticipated encounter of the Premier League season.Arne Slot's side will hope to right the wrongs of before the international break and heap further pressure on beleaguered United boss Ruben Amorim.And here the ECHO writers consider how Liverpool could line up for the clash against the team from down the other end of the East Lancs Road...READ MORE: Mohamed Salah could be about to get just what he needs as ex-Liverpool star makes feelings clearREAD MORE: Milos Kerkez makes 'tough' Liverpool admission and explains what he has seen in trainingPaul GorstWith Ryan Gravenberch unscathed and Ibrahima Konate in training, Arne Slot has plenty of options to choose from once more for this one against Manchester United.With Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai having their confidence levels boosted by goal-scoring outings for Argentina and Hungary during the international break, there is plenty of thinking to do for the Reds boss when it comes to the make-up of his midfield.For me, I'm going to give Mac Allister a breather and recall Szoboszlai alongside Gravenberch. As good as France international Ekitike has been, I think this might be made for Isak on Sunday, so the Sweden man gets the nod instead.My team (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.Ian DoyleManchester United have not been very good for quite some time, but that didn't stop them coming to Anfield at the start of the year and earning a 2-2 draw that could easily have become a win in the closing moments.So Liverpool will be on their guard against being lulled into a false sense of security.
Giorgi Mamardashvili is in goal.In midfield, Alexis Mac Allister can have a breather with Dominik Szoboszlai in with Ryan Gravenberch in the double pivot and Florian Wirtz back as the number 10.And up top, Alexander Isak is the preferred choice as number nine with Mohamed Salah to his right and Cody Gakpo on the left.My team (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.Theo SquiresAfter three defeats in a row, Manchester United at Anfield could be exactly what Liverpool need to get back on track. His best performances have come at Anfield against Arsenal and Everton so fingers crossed it's a similar story against Manchester United.And while Ibrahima Konate is back in team training, I'm not taking any risks with the Frenchman.
He's out of form regardless, so Joe Gomez comes in to partner Virgil van Dijk.My team (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Bradley, Gomez, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.Mark JonesSunday afternoon. It is time for the big boys to turn up.Liverpool shelled out a lot of money this summer, you may have read about it, and the fruits of that expenditure now have to be seen on the pitch, which is why I'd be picking both Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak to start against Manchester United.Neither of them are in goal though, that's Giorgi Mamardashvili for a first taste of Premier League football at Anfield, while I'd go for Conor Bradley and Andy Robertson as the two full-backs either side of Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk.