Salah Eyes Redemption Against Chelsea as Liverpool Prepares Star-Studded Lineup for Crucial Clash
Liverpool aim to bounce back from consecutive losses when they travel to face Chelsea this Saturday night.
The Merseyside club has delivered poor showings in away fixtures against Crystal Palace and Galatasaray, leaving Arne Slot facing the prospect of three straight defeats for the first time since taking charge at Liverpool. The Dutch manager will also be mindful of title rivals Arsenal, who could overtake his team at the summit this weekend.
Luckily for Liverpool, their injury worries are minimal compared to Chelsea's extensive list, and the defending champions will be eager to capitalize on their weakened opponents to get back to winning form ahead of the international window.
Here's how Liverpool might set up tactically.
Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs. Chelsea (4-2-3-1)
GK: Giorgi Mamardashvili—With Alisson's recent injury ruling him out for a minimum of six weeks, Mamardashvili will get his first extended opportunity in Liverpool's starting eleven. The Georgian shot-stopper represents a highly competent replacement.
RB: Conor Bradley—Liverpool require stability in the right-back slot after rotating between Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong and Dominik Szoboszlai in that position this campaign. The defensively-oriented Northern Ireland defender might get the nod for this challenging away fixture.
CB: Ibrahima Konaté—Konaté's displays have been subpar this campaign, with speculation about a potential Real Madrid move next summer appearing to affect his focus. Regrettably for Slot, options remain limited.
CB: Virgil van Dijk—Even Liverpool's commanding skipper hasn't been able to halt the Reds' string of poor defensive showings. The Dutch center-back must help his team find stability.
LB: Andy Robertson—Milos Kerkez has struggled to adapt during his early Liverpool stint, potentially leading Slot to rely on Robertson's veteran presence against Chelsea's dangerous attacking unit.
DM: Ryan Gravenberch—Gravenberch has accumulated significant minutes this season, with limited rest opportunities expected for the Dutch midfielder going forward. His importance cannot be overstated.
DM: Alexis Mac Allister—Liverpool felt Mac Allister's absence and his composure on the ball during the Galatasaray loss, making Slot almost certain to restore the Argentine to Saturday's starting formation.
AM: Florian Wirtz—How should Slot handle Wirtz's situation? The £116 million German requires playing time to develop chemistry with his new colleagues, yet his displays have been routinely disappointing.
RW: Mohamed Salah—Salah has struggled to meet his usual high standards this season but maintains an excellent record against his former club Chelsea. He's contributed five goals or assists in his previous eight Premier League encounters with the Blues and should return to the starting lineup after being rested in midweek.
ST: Alexander Isak—With Hugo Ekitiké potentially unavailable for Saturday's match, £125 million signing Isak could receive another starting opportunity. He scored his first Liverpool goal in the Carabao Cup third round but has yet to produce a standout performance.
LW: Cody Gakpo—Gakpo began the campaign brilliantly but his recent form has been inconsistent. He must regain his early-season sharpness or risk losing his left-wing spot to Liverpool's emerging fan favorite Federico Chiesa.
