Liverpool FC lineup choices against Plymouth – 10 alterations, with Jota set to start?

Liverpool gears up for their clash against Plymouth. With only two injuries in the squad, manager Arne Slot has a wide range of options to select from and could make as many as 10 changes from the side that faced Tottenham last time out.

While it’s important not to overlook Sunday’s opponents, especially given that Plymouth managed a draw against Liverpool back in 2017 when they were still a fourth-division team, Slot should still see this match as an opportunity to rotate his squad. Times have certainly changed, with Liverpool boasting a much stronger, nearly fully-fit squad that was inherited from Jürgen Klopp.

Here’s what we know about the team for this upcoming match:

Team News

In his press conference, Arne Slot provided the following updates:

• Trent Alexander-Arnold won’t be available for this match and is also a doubt for the upcoming game against Everton.
• Tyler Morton has sustained a shoulder injury and will be out for “at least four weeks”.
• Slot confirmed he will “definitely use a few players that haven’t played that much”.
• Alisson was rested against Tottenham but is not injured and should be available for this fixture.

Liverpool’s Potential Lineup vs. Plymouth

Based on the available information, this is how Liverpool might line up against Plymouth:

Alisson; Bradley, Quansah, Gomez, Tsimikas; Endo, Mac Allister, Elliott; Chiesa, Jota, Diaz.

Despite the expectation that several key players will be rested, it’s still tough to predict Slot’s exact lineup. Much of the coach’s decisions will hinge on how seriously the Reds are taking this fixture. For instance, Mac Allister could feature alongside Curtis Jones if Slot deems it necessary.

There’s also the matter of who will be in goal. While Caoimhin Kelleher started in the third round, Slot may prefer to bring Alisson back in to keep him sharp ahead of future fixtures.

In terms of defensive changes, Wataru Endo will likely play in the backline, with Gomez moving to right-back to give Bradley a break before the match against Everton. This will also be the first time in a month that Jones starts consecutive matches.

McConnell, whom Slot spoke highly of in his pre-match comments, will likely join Jones and Elliott in midfield. Here’s an alternative lineup Slot could field:

Kelleher; Gomez, Quansah, Endo, Tsimikas; McConnell, Jones, Elliott; Chiesa, Jota, Diaz.

The reality is, Liverpool could afford to play a much younger side and still have a good chance of progressing. However, given the excellent health of the squad, this may be a perfect opportunity to give senior players who need minutes a run-out.

Additionally, with Liverpool U21s and Liverpool U18s also in action this weekend, we may get a glimpse of whether the likes of Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha feature in those games, hinting at potential involvement in the senior squad.

Stay tuned for more updates as we approach match day!