Arne Slot given Liverpool selection headache ahead of Everton clash as stars return Latest injury Update and return dates…

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has some selection decisions to make ahead of the Merseyside derby vs Everton

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.

Consistency, consistency, consistency. If there’s one competition that rewards dependability of approach, it’s the Premier League.

And Arne Slot’s reliance on a key core of players has been a primary factor in Liverpool having lost just once in 29 top-flight games this season to open up a 12-point lead at the summit with only nine games remaining. For example, only four midfielders have started a Premier League game this season, while Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have lined up for every match.

Although Liverpool haven’t been in action since Wembley, most of the Reds players have been in action around the world for the respective countries. However, a free weekend due to early FA Cup elimination has at least given them an extended break.

There are, though, some decisions for Slot to make in midfield. Ryan Gravenberch returned early from Holland duty due to an injury sustained against Newcastle and in any case had appeared jaded in recent weeks, while Dominik Szoboszlai has run himself into the ground in his latest outings for club and country. It would be a brave move to bench both against Everton but no surprise if one is omitted, with Curtis Jones, Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott all meriting a start. Jones for Gravenberch seems the more likely change.

While the goalkeeper and defence pick themselves – Andy Robertson now the clear first-choice left-back again – up front isn’t quite so clear cut. Mohamed Salah will be on the right, but it could be that the number nine conundrum is solved by the fit-again Cody Gakpo returning to the left and Luis Diaz going back down the centre again.

Joe Rimmer

Liverpool returned to training on Saturday and hopefully the Reds have used the international break to get some disappointment out of their system after the Carabao Cup final and Champions League defeats.

The break from action will also have given Reds boss Arne Slot some time to ponder the upcoming nine-game run that could turn a promising season into an historic one.

Indeed, win five games and Liverpool know the Premier League title is basically theirs, and that starts with the Merseyside derby and a score to settle with Everton on Wednesday evening.

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What then, does Slot do with his team selection? Especially having seen his side turn in a such a disappointing display against Newcastle United at Wembley.

The answer, perhaps, is not a great deal at all. It shouldn’t be forgotten that while Liverpool ultimately fell to defeat against Paris Saint-Germain, the performance wasn’t the worst.

But Slot does need to make some minor tweaks in order to freshen things up. Here’s hoping the break has given Cody Gakpo a chance to get up to speed ahead of a return on the left hand side.