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Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool runs with the ball, as he warms up with teammates Luis Diaz prior to the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC at Vitality Stadium(Image: 2025 Liverpool FC)

Arne Slot saw his decision to ring the changes against Plymouth Argyle ultimately backfire as Liverpool suffered a shock FA Cup defeat on Sunday.

The Reds head coach left 11 senior players at home, including Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Making 10 changes to his starting XI against the Pilgrims, with Caoimhin Kelleher the only player to retain his place, Slot still included the likes of Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota in his starting XI.

But Liverpool’s fringe players ultimately struggled throughout as Ryan Hardie’s penalty was the difference at Home Park, with the Reds’ attention now turning to Wednesday’s Merseyside derby.

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Slot will ring the chances once again against Everton with all his rested players set to return.

And the ECHO takes a look at the side the Dutchman could select for his derby debut…

Alexander-Arnold absence continues

Slot had already admitted it Alexander-Arnold faced a race against time to prove his fitness in time to face Everton.

With Conor Bradley left at home against Plymouth, with one eye on facing the Blues, it would suggest that the Liverpool vice-captain is losing that battle.

If he indeed does not recover in time, Bradley will start at right-back with Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson also restored to the back four.

Meanwhile, having sat out the Reds’ last two matches, a well-rested Alisson Becker is set to return in goal.

All-change in midfield

Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai were all left at home for the trip to Plymouth, and are well-placed to be restored to the starting XI against Everton as a result.

Meanwhile, Curtis Jones was left unused against the Pilgrims with Slot later revealing that the midfielder was not feeling 100% fit after only recently returning from injury.

While hopefully only precautionary, it would be a surprise if he was thrown straight back into the starting line-up.

Diaz dilemma

Salah and Cody Gakpo will both start against Everton after being rested altogether against Plymouth, but Slot faces a tough decision regarding who will complete his attack at Goodison Park.

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Diaz, Jota and Federico Chiesa all started against Plymouth Argyle, while Darwin Nunez was introduced off the bench, but none of the quartet covered themselves in glory in Liverpool’s disappointing FA Cup exit.

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With the Portuguese only recently back from injury, Slot seems most likely to pick between Diaz and Nunez when selecting his starting centre-forward for the derby.


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