Liverpool are next up against Brighton in the Premier League with Arne Slot facing some selection posers
Liverpool continue to challenge on four fronts after another impressive result under new head coach Arne Slot with a 3-2 League Cup win at Brighton. Cody Gakpo scored twice and Luis Diaz netted late on as the Reds held on to secure a fourth-round triumph and set up a quarter-final at Southampton in December.
Liverpool will now turn their attention to the Premier League with the second part of their double header against Brighton at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
And here we look ahead to the changes Slot could make when his team are next in action.
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Left-back decision
Having rotated heavily in midweek, Slot will be expected to recall most if not all of those who dropped out for the League Cup.
Despite an excellent showing on the South Coast, Vitezslav Jaros will return to the bench with Caoimhin Kelleher stepping back in between the sticks given Alisson Becker remains sidelined with a hamstring problem.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was given the night off and will be favourite to return at right-back with Conor Bradley looking a little rusty on Wednesday having been sidelined with a knock.
Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate will step back in at centre-back in place of Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah although Slot has a major decision to make at left-back, where Andy Robertson has started the last two games but Kostas Tsimikas is pressing hard for a recall.
Two into 10 won’t go
Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister were given well-earned breathers from the starting line-up at Brighton but will return in the two deeper midfield roles, although both Wataru Endo and Tyler Morton were praised by Slot for their efforts in midweek.
There will be greater intrigue over who plays in the number 10, with both Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai having played at the head of a box midfield at the Amex Stadium.
Harvey Elliott is still to resume full training as he approaches two months out, while 17-year-old Trey Nyoni was given only a second Liverpool appearance from the bench on Wednesday.
Gakpo or Diaz?
Having been restricted to a late cameo in midweek, Darwin Nunez will be expected to start on Saturday down the centre of the attack. And with Mohamed Salah recalled to the right given Federico Chiesa continues to be hampered by fitness issues, it leaves Slot with a straight choice between Gakpo and Diaz for the left wing role.
Gakpo scored twice and has started four of the last five games on the left, with Diaz on the right at Brighton before scoring when switching to the left after the Dutchman’s substitution.
