Slot Faces Crucial Salah Call as Liverpool Prepare to Battle Brighton Under Mounting Pressure
Attention will be focused intensely on Arne Slot's team selection when Liverpool face Brighton & Hove Albion this Saturday afternoon.
Following his pledge to hold crucial discussions with Mohamed Salah regarding their continuing and highly publicized dispute, the results of these conversations will be revealed when Liverpool announces their official matchday squad. Should Salah be included, it might signal potential reconciliation. Should the Egyptian be omitted, tension will escalate before the January transfer period.
Even should Salah make the team bus, his return to the starting eleven isn't guaranteed. Slot employed a compact diamond formation during an impressive midweek victory over Inter and may be inclined to continue with this tactical approach against Brighton.
This is how Liverpool might set up this weekend.
Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs. Brighton (4-1-2-1-2)
GK: Alisson—Alisson faced less action than anticipated against Inter at San Siro but still delivered an outstanding save to thwart Lautaro Martínez. The exceptional Brazilian goalkeeper cannot be held responsible for Liverpool's poor defensive statistics.
RB: Joe Gomez—With Conor Bradley sidelined following his fifth booking of the campaign last weekend, Slot will deploy Gomez at right-back for the Brighton encounter. He may face the pacey Kaoru Mitoma as the Japanese player returns from injury.
CB: Ibrahima Konaté—If Konaté could consistently perform as he did against Inter every match. There remains a capable and potentially outstanding defender within the struggling Frenchman.
CB: Virgil van Dijk—Van Dijk demonstrated leadership during Liverpool's challenging moment at San Siro, delivering a determined display against Martínez and Marcus Thuram. Brighton's Danny Welbeck presents a completely different challenge on Saturday.
LB: Milos Kerkez—Liverpool appear more solid defensively with Robertson in the side, yet Slot has consistently chosen Kerkez despite the summer signing's underwhelming performances. He might be selected to counter Yankuba Minteh's explosive pace.
DM: Ryan Gravenberch—Gravenberch merited being part of the victorious side following last weekend's excellent showing at Leeds and displayed similar assurance against Inter. Two strong performances will enhance his self-belief.
CM: Dominik Szoboszlai—Again, Szoboszlai emerged as Liverpool's standout player versus Inter. The Hungarian has delivered the reliability his colleagues have desperately missed and will provide excellent equilibrium between offense and defense should Slot choose a diamond formation.
CM: Curtis Jones—Jones can be delightful to watch when at his peak, though such occasions have been somewhat sporadic in recent seasons. With Alexis Mac Allister still performing below his standards, he has a chance to secure a regular starting role.
AM: Florian Wirtz—The German was deployed only as a substitute at San Siro and made a crucial impact from the bench, earning an admittedly generous penalty in the closing stages. Wirtz continues to demonstrate flashes of his ability.
ST: Alexander Isak—Isak and Hugo Ekitiké made an uncommon start together against Inter, with the Swede being the more subdued of the two strikers. He faces some uncertainty for the weekend after sustaining a knock in Italy, but should be available to play.
ST: Hugo Ekitiké—The energetic Frenchman netted twice at Leeds United last weekend and will be keen to increase his Premier League goal count at Brighton. He hasn't found the net at Anfield since the Carabao Cup third round in late September.
