1 week Ago
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot may have to manage without a sextet of injured players for Wednesday's Premier League showdown with Newcastle United at St James' Park. The Reds maintained their nine-point lead at the summit with a 2-0 triumph over ailing champions Manchester City on Sunday, where Diogo Jota (abdominal), Federico Chiesa (fitness), Ibrahima Konate (knee), Conor Bradley (hamstring), Alisson Becker (hamstring) and Kostas Tsimikas (thigh) all watched on from the sidelines. Slot is yet to update fans on whether any of his infirm crowd could return in midweek, but in all likelihood, the Dutchman will be working with an identical squad from Sunday's success over the holders.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was back in the first XI at the weekend after his hamstring problem and came through 73 minutes unscathed before Jarell Quansah replaced him, so he should be fine to go again from the off at St James' Park. The England international ought to join Caoimhin Kelleher , Virgil van Dijk , Andy Robertson and Joe Gomez - filling in for Konate - in an untouched defence, while Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister remain untouchable in midfield. Slot will be expected to tinker with his system further forward, though, potentially starting with the familiar Dominik Szoboszlai - Curtis Jones swap in the most advanced midfield position, while Darwin Nunez could displace Luis Diaz at the tip of the attack too.
Cody Gakpo 's stellar display against Man City merits another start on the left, though, while Mohamed Salah is out to register a goal and assist in a 37th different Premier League game, having equalled Wayne Rooney 's record of 36 on Sunday. Liverpool possible starting lineup: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Jones, Gakpo; Nunez > Click here to see how Newcastle could line up for this match.
