Liverpool line-ups vs Real Madrid as Florian Wirtz call made and formation change mooted

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Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo both start.My team (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike.Ian DoyleReal Madrid in the Champions League visiting to play Liverpool at Anfield. So say hello to Florian Wirtz as the false nine while Mohamed Salah is on the right and Cody Gakpo on the left.My team (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Wirtz.Theo SquiresLiverpool returned to winning ways against Aston Villa by reverting to the tried and trusted in defence and midfield, but Real Madrid will be a truer test of whether Arne Slot’s men have really turned the corner.I’d be naming an unchanged back five for this one, with Conor Bradley and Andy Robertson continuing in both full-back positions.

Ibrahima Konate starts at centre-back alongside Virgil van Dijk, with the Frenchman, who was superb the last time Real Madrid came to town, hopefully in top form again against a side who continue to be touted as would-be suitors should he depart on a free transfer next summer.Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister were reunited in impressive fashion against Villa, so they continue in the deeper midfield roles.But with Florian Wirtz’s best football coming in the Champions League this season, I’m opting for a change of formation to include the German in the starting XI. But the Frenchman will still have an important role to play as substitute, of course, on what is set to be a big night at Anfield as a certain Trent Alexander-Arnold returns to Merseyside with his new employers.My team (4-2-2-2): Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Salah, Gakpo.Mark JonesHow many times last season would we debate starting XIs and plot the changes that Arne Slot seemed certain to make, only for the Liverpool boss to end up making few if any alterations?

Off the back of the win over Aston Villa I think he might end up doing the same thing again here.There are certain weeks that you just need your players to battle through and go again for you, and with a decent break between tonight's fixture and Sunday's trip to Manchester City, this seems like one of them.Sure there are some positions up for grabs in the side, but Slot - who only made one substitution against Villa - will be able to look at the likes of Conor Bradley and Alexis Mac Allister and challenge them to repeat last season's excellent performances in this fixture. The German's time will come after the international break.My team (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike.