And so to the Champions League for Liverpool, as Arne Slot attempts to bring a seventh European Cup to Anfield at the second time of asking. It’s the first of two huge home games this week as Atletico Madrid visit on Wednesday night before Everton arrive for the first Merseyside derby of the Premier League season on Saturday lunchtime.
Advertisement
With no Federico Chiesa in the squad for the Champions League this term, Slot might be tasked with bringing in a new attacker in the fold in a certain Alexander Isak. More on him shortly.
Elsewhere, there are a number of other genuine selection posers to grab the attention as the head coach weighs up the visit from Diego Simeone’s los Rojiblancos on Wednesday.
READ MORE: Liverpool face new Marc Guehi transfer hurdle after ‘ridiculous’ Arne Slot admission
Advertisement
READ MORE: Mohamed Salah responds to Alexander Isak signing in blunt Liverpool admission
The goalkeeper situation is straightforward enough but the options are plentiful on the right side of the back four. Dominik Szoboszlai has excelled in the absence of Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley but both are now back in contention having featured against Burnley on Sunday.
Frimpong offers the speed and unpredictability in an attacking sense, while Bradley is assured and athletic. It’s a welcome headache for Slot given more traditional midfielder Szoboszlai has played there for the past three games without fault.
Advertisement
On the left side, there is a similar issue over Andy Robertson and Milos Kerkez. The latter was withdrawn in the first half by Slot over fears of a second yellow after he picked up a needless caution for diving to try and win a penalty.
“Yes, I said already to him that it wasn’t smart,” Slot said on that substitution. “He replied to me that he felt some arm in his back. But let’s be clear, it wasn’t a penalty.
“It is funny that the two dives we have had in the one-and-a-bit years I’ve been here, they have both led to a yellow card so we’re not really good at it.
Advertisement
Andy Robertson comes on for Milos Kerkez during Burnley 0-1 Liverpool. -Credit:Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
“I see it happening a lot without the referee giving a yellow, but the moment we do it. It was a dive, he told me he felt something but it wasn’t a foul so it’s not smart.”
Robertson showcased his experience and dependability in the absence of Hungary international Kerkez and it will be interesting to see what Slot now does against Simeone’s Atletico. The Scotland skipper still has an awful lot to offer.
Both decisions at full-back represent genuine defensive dilemmas for Slot, although the fact he has so many options also highlights the strength in depth that exists at Anfield.
Advertisement
In midfield, Liverpool will be sweating on the fitness of Alexis Mac Allister, who suffered an ankle problem after a poor challenge from Burnley’s Lesley Ugochukwu.
Argentina international Mac Allister played on but was eventually withdrawn, with Slot saying: “I was always sure I would take him off after 60 minutes for him to be ready to be back on the pitch on Wednesday and Saturday and I already made one substitution in the first half.
Alexis Mac Allister is treated during the Premier League match between Burnley and Liverpool -Credit:AP Photo/Jon Super
“If I take him off on 60 minutes then I would have to make another one then if I want to make changes on 75 I can do nothing anymore. That combined with the tackle that was a tackle that he felt. I’m not surprised by the fact he felt that tackle, by the way.”
Advertisement
Szoboszlai may shift into a more central midfield area alongside Ryan Gravenberch but Slot did not sound too concerned about the fitness of Mac Allister. An update is expected on Tuesday when the Dutchman previews the game at Anfield, while the fitness of Curtis Jones will also be given after he missed Sunday’s game.
But it’s top where the big questions will now come for Slot. Isak was left out of Sunday’s squad as he continues to adjust and get up to speed after his £125m transfer deadline day move from Newcastle United.
Isak has played just 18 minutes of any kind since May having been banished from Newcastle team training after he essentially went on strike to force his dream move to Anfield and Slot was at pains to stress why the Sweden international was left back on Merseyside for the weekend’s trip to Turf Moor.
Advertisement
Alexander Isak could make his Liverpool debut -Credit:Nikki Dyer – Liverpool FC via Getty Images
“If you start a season when the players have been off for five weeks, you give them a certain base before they are able to play 45 minutes,” Slot said.
“We got him from Newcastle in a state where you could see his pre-season was going to start now, then he needs proper minutes of training before he has a certain base, let alone for him to play twice in three days.
“We try to prepare players at the beginning of the season to play once a week and then we try to do more before the rhythm of three games a week. Alex is far from ready for that schedule of three games in a week but we could use him today for five minutes and Wednesday 10 and then 15, but we don’t believe that is the way to build him up.
Advertisement
“In Sweden they did the right thing by giving him good sessions without playing him a lot and we did the same so now he will be able to play 45 on Wednesday as a minimum or a little bit more. But if he plays 45 on Wednesday, don’t expect him to play 45 or more on Saturday (against Everton) as his body is not prepared for that.”
Isak has signed a six-year deal with the champions and due to the size of the fee and the excitement that surrounds the capture of the new No.9, it is understandable that supporters want to see him introduced as soon as possible. But a more sensible outlook from Slot and his staff will be needed to ensure the new man doesn’t pick up any muscle injuries needlessly, which really would prolong his adaptation.
Expect Hugo Ekitike to continue leading the line ahead of an Isak cameo off the bench. Cody Gakpo will flank the left side and Mohamed Salah will be stationed on the right. With no Chiesa to call upon, Isak and Rio Ngumoha will supply the attacking impetus off the bench, should it be needed against Atletico.