Slot makes four changes as 'fantastic' player finally gets his chance: Liverpool's predicted XI vs Bournemouth
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Liverpool shook off the cobwebs of last weekend’s defeat to Nottingham Forest by beating AC Milan in the Champions League.
Nevertheless, the Reds can’t afford to be complacent. Failure to beat Bournemouth at Anfield on Saturday will make it a slightly concerning start in the Premier League for Arne Slot. With plenty on the line, here’s how we think Slot will line Liverpool up.
Defence
The big, bad news for Liverpool on Friday came in the form of a new injury for Alisson Becker. The Brazilian is set to miss Saturday’s game.
Quite how Alisson has become so injury prone is a bit of a mystery, but it does mean that Caoimhin Kelleher will get his first minutes of the season.
Slot has a few decisions to make in-front of the Irishman. Does the Liverpool head coach stick or twist?
There are plenty of games coming up, but we think Slot will only make one change in his defence – Andy Robertson for Kostas Tsimikas. That means Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk will all go again.
Midfield
Alan Shearer was impressed by Liverpool’s midfield during the Reds’ win in Milan on Tuesday. The trio once again worked perfectly together.
Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch are really gelling together, with Stephen Warnock praising the partnership the two players have created in midfield.
Although there are arguments for changing things, we think midweek against West Ham will give Slot the chance to rest legs. We expect Mac Allister, Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai all to play again.
READ MORE: Arne Slot explains when he’s finally planning to give Darwin Nunez some game time
Attack
The Liverpool attack was altered on Tuesday, with Slot deciding it was the right moment to unleash Cody Gakpo.
Gakpo was excellent at San Siro, laying on Szoboszlai’s goal and generally being a threat throughout his time on the pitch.
Following his top performance, pundit Paul Merson has claimed that Gakpo should play against Bournemouth. But we don’t think Slot will do it.
Instead, we’re fully expecting to see Luis Diaz return to the line-up, with the ‘fantastic’ Darwin Nunez instead being the player who rotates into the team.
As ever, Mohamed Salah will complete Liverpool’s attack from the right hand side.
Liverpool’s predicted XI vs Bournemouth: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
