Liverpool will be eager to return to winning ways when they lock horns with Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League clash at RAMS Park on Tuesday night. Arne Slot has a new injury concern to worry about ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Federico Chiesa has not travelled to Turkiye for the game against Galatasaray after picking up a knock in the Premier League clash with Crystal Palace this past weekend. While Arne Slot has added the Italian international to the UEFA Champions League squad after Giovanni Leoni sustained a long-term knee injury, he will not take on Galatasaray.
Chiesa has joined Leoni on the sidelines, with the latter unlikely to feature much this season, if at all, due to the knee injury he sustained a week ago. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Slot provided a fitness update on Chiesa.
The Liverpool manager said, “He got a little niggle, I think it is the word you use here in England, in the last game against Palace. He tried it today, he was on the pitch in the beginning but he couldn’t end the session, so we decided not to take him because in a few days it’s Chelsea again.”
Alisson Becker is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Giorgi Mamardashvili missing out on a place in the starting lineup again. The away side will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of the Brazilian goalkeeper against Galatasaray at RAMS Park on Tuesday night.
The Liverpool backline will feature Jeremie Frimpong, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, and Andrew Robertson. Gomez will receive a place in the starting lineup in place of Ibrahima Konate, with the Frenchman not being at his best this season. Meanwhile, Robertson’s start continues the pattern of easing Milos Kerkez amid his inconsistent performances.
As for the midfield unit, Curtis Jones may get the nod over Alexis Mac Allister, who has been off the boil in the last few weeks. The English midfielder will accompany Ryan Gravenberch in the double pivot. Meanwhile, Florian Wirtz will reprise the no. 10 role, with Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah being the two wide attackers. Finally, Hugo Ekitike will lead the line for the away side against Galatasaray, with Alexander Isak being a backup option on the bench.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson, Frimpong, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Gravenberch; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
