Liverpool face major Alexis Mac Allister decision as Arne Slot considers forward rethink
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Liverpool are next up against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League with Arne Slot facing some selection posersLiverpool's spluttering season plumbed new depths with an atrocious FA Cup quarter-final exit at Manchester City on Saturday afternoon. Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick and Antoine Semenyo also netted as the Reds were thumped 4-0 by the League Cup winners.Arne Slot's side will aim to bounce back when they look to continue their quest for the one possible remaining piece of silverware with a Champions League quarter-final first leg at holders Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday evening.And here we look ahead to the changes Reds head coach Slot could make when his team are next in action.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE!
All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook pageFrimpong on standbyThere is now no reason for Slot not to go all in regards his team selection, but what his best starting line-up actually is remains very much open for debate after another shoddy display at the weekend.However, with Alisson Becker still hamstrung, Giorgi Mamardashvili will continue between the sticks with Freddie Woodman his deputy.Joe Gomez started at right-back against City but will come under pressure from Jeremie Frimpong for a start, although Conor Bradley is out for the season.Gomez is also an option at centre-back with neither Ibrahima Konate nor captain Virgil van Dijk covering themselves in glory at the Etihad. Young Giovanni Leoni won't be seen until the new campaign.And Andy Robertson is the alternative to Milos Kerkez at left-back but looks more likely to feature in the Premier League game against Fulham that sandwiches the two PSG matches.Mac Allister return?The midfield spluttered badly against City and it's almost certain Alexis Mac Allister, rested to the bench on Saturday after returning last from international duty, will start in some capacity.Slot has used a 4-2-2-2 formation in several Champions League away games this season and could do so again, which would make Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz favourites to join Mac Allister in the narrow engine room.But continuing with 4-2-3-1 could leave both Gravenberch and Curtis Jones - who started as the double pivot at City - in danger of missing out after both failed to shine.Gravenbech, though, has been a regular this season, which would leave Szoboszlai, Wirtz and Jones scrapping it out for the number 10 role.Wataru Endo remains sidelined after ankle surgery while teenager Trey Nyoni continues to have his minutes carefully handled.
Stefan Bajcetic has been unavailable all season.Slot waitsShould Slot operate two up front, it's likely Hugo Ekitike and Mohamed Salah will be the preferred options with Cody Gakpo next in line and Alexander Isak set to be on the bench after only returning to training last week after more than three months out.A regular three-pronged attack, though, would give the Reds boss some difficult decisions, with Gakpo challenging Ekitike for a place down the middle and Wirtz for a role on the left.Salah would be expected to be on the right but, depending on whether he plays at full-back, Frimpong could be an option on the wing.Teenager Rio Ngumoha appears to have edged ahead of Federico Chiesa regards order in being used as a substitute. Another youngster, Jayden Danns, remains out, but fellow teenager Will Wright was part of the travelling squad to City on Saturday but didn't make the bench.Up to 70% off Liverpool kits and merchThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it.