Liverpool's long-term succession plan to begin as Arne Slot confronts Alexander Isak question

Having come through three games in less a week at Burnley and at home to Atletico Madrid and Everton, it was no surprise to hear Arne Slot talking up the need for changes against Southampton on Tuesday night.

Liverpool get their Carabao Cup campaign underway against the Saints at Anfield at the third-round stage and as has become customary for this competition, alterations to the lineup will be virtually wholesale.

Given the strength in depth that exists now at Anfield, Slot will have full confidence in whoever gets the nod but the Reds boss, uncharacteristically, was far from coy when revealing who wouldn’t be involved after Saturday’s 2-1 win over Everton.

“The good thing is I have the option to rotate throughout the week, and the ones that played three times 90 minutes are Virgil (van Dijk), Ibou (Ibrahima Konate), Mo (Mohamed Salah), Ryan (Gravenberch) and Dom (Dominik Szoboszlai),” Slot said.

“The ones that are used to this intensity at this level, and again they showed up really good. I can tell you now you won’t be seeing them on Tuesday.”

Virgil van Dijk said: “I think we had that depth last season as well. The key is that we have everyone fit and hopefully it stays like that. We made a lot of additions to the squad but they were replacing players who left us. Tuesday is a big opportunity for a lot of players to show themselves and help us to get through.”

Giorgi Mamardashvili is almost certain to get the nod for his Liverpool debut, which he has had to wait a long time for. The Georgia international was a 2024 signing, with his £29m deal struck with Valencia seeing him arrive on Merseyside earlier this summer.

Mamardashvili is seen, long term, as the heir to Alisson Becker’s throne and those first tentative steps will be taken on Tuesday evening against the Championship outfit.

There is a succession place in for the vaunted and long-serving Alisson and this will be 24-year-old Mamardashvili’s chance to show a little of why he is seen as the future between the sticks on Merseyside.

At right-back, it could be a chance for Jeremie Frimpong to build on his start to Liverpool life, while vice-captain Andy Robertson will start in possession of the armband. Centrally, it’s likely to be a debut for Giovanni Leoni, who has yet to feature since his £26m move from Parma in mid-August.

The 18-year-old has only played 17 senior games but has already been called up to the Italy national side, so there will be plenty of interest in the teenager should he be selected. Joe Gomez will almost certainly get his first start of the season alongside Leoni.

In midfield, academy hopeful Trey Nyoni could be called in having not featured for the Under-21s against Manchester United on Sunday. The youngster may be asked to fill the most advanced of the midfield positions. Wataru Endo is expected to give the engine room as experience and bite, while Curtis Jones may be handed a chance for more minutes after returning from injury in Saturday’s derby.

Up top, this could be the night for Alexander Isak to take his most significant step yet towards 100% match fitness. After playing an hour for the Reds against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, a second-half cameo in the derby was further progress having not had any sort of pre-season schedule given how his transfer from Newcastle United played out.

So this feels like an ideal time for the £125m to lead the line and gain some confidence and fitness against a second-tier side ahead of more taxing and high-profile assignments to come. Jayden Danns is also vying for a place if Slot feels Isak is not worth the risk.

Should Isak start, he is expected to be flanked by Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha on the right and left, respectively. Chiesa is not part of the Reds’ Champions League squad so he will be tasked with catching the eye of Slot throughout this competition. These are the opportunities he simply must take given Salah will always start league games when fit.

For Ngumoha, this will be a big night to build on what has been an exceptional couple of months for the 17-year-old that included him becoming the youngest scorer in the club’s history with his dramatic 100th-minute winner at Newcastle.

Big things are now being expected of the England Under-19 international and the League Cup will be his chance to shine.

Liverpool’s long-term succession plan to begin as Arne Slot confronts Alexander Isak question

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