The international break is finally over and Liverpool return to Anfield as favourites against a Nottingham Forest side managed by Nuno Espirito Santo.
Liverpool won this fixture 3-0 last year with Darwin Nunez arguably the standout performer on the day.
A lot has changed since then, not least there being a new manager in each dugout, but Arne Slot‘s Reds remain expectant of a victory to begin a busy run of fixtures.
Liverpool’s players are back on Merseyside and 10 of them returned having played the maximum number of minutes on offer during the international break.
This could impact Slot’s decision-making when picking the starting XI, but the boss seemed pleased when asked about so many of his players being busy over the last two weeks.
“In some situations I was really happy with the fact that they played 90 (twice),” said the Dutchman before caveating that by saying in the future he “would love it to be a bit different.”
For players like Conor Bradley, Jarell Quansah, Cody Gakpo and Kostas Tsimikas, whom Slot all mentioned by name, their game time was a big positive.
The major difference from Liverpool’s last match is that Harvey Elliott is no longer available, having fractured his foot.
It is disappointing for the 21-year-old who “would have had a lot of playing time” in the next few weeks, according to Slot, but attacking midfield is thankfully a position where Liverpool have good options.
Meanwhile, Alexis Mac Allister is somewhat of a doubt to start the Forest match after adductor discomfort left him on the bench for Argentina’s last game, but Slot has said: “I’m expecting Macca to be with us.”
Thankfully, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was relatively cautious with our No. 10 and he returned to training on Thursday.
Despite Mac Allister’s minor problems and the Reds’ busy international break, it is likely Slot sticks with a side very close to the one that played against Man United, for this game at least.
It is more probable that we begin to see rotation against AC Milan, though there exists the possibility Liverpool could field a whole new left side, replacing Andy Robertson, Mac Allister and Luis Diaz with Tsimikas, Curtis Jones and Gakpo.
Predicted XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Salah, Jota, Diaz
