Liverpool’s Possible Lineups Against AC Milan as Arne Slot Deals with Rotation Pressure

Arne Slot encounters his first tight turnaround of his Liverpool tenure as the Reds head to Italy to face AC Milan in the Champions League.

Liverpool returns to Europe’s elite after a year’s absence, starting with a visit to San Siro to play a Milan team fresh from a 4-0 victory over Venezia.

The Reds had a more challenging lead-up, suffering a 1-0 defeat at Anfield to Nottingham Forest, but a game three days later offers a chance to demonstrate that the loss was merely a minor setback.

As Liverpool’s second match out of seven in 22 days approaches, Slot is expected to rotate his squad. However, as evidenced against Forest, he seems hesitant to do so early in his Liverpool career.

Here’s a potential lineup for Liverpool against AC Milan.

Team news:
– Harvey Elliott is sidelined until October due to a fractured foot.
– Jayden Danns remains unavailable due to a back issue.
– James McConnell is still out because of an ankle problem.

Liverpool’s XI vs. AC Milan:

Given Slot’s relatively new position, predicting his team selections during a congested fixture schedule is challenging. However, clues from substitutions against Forest suggest that those who came off early might feature against Milan.

One possible lineup could be:

– Kostas Tsimikas replaces Andy Robertson to give him a rest.
– Alexis Mac Allister, Diogo Jota, and Luis Diaz start after being substituted an hour into Saturday’s match.
– Ibrahima Konate continues his run of form alongside Virgil van Dijk.

Probable Starting XI:

Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Salah, Jota, Diaz

Although Slot isn’t keen on rotation currently, he might have to make adjustments for this match. Seven of his starters from the weekend had played full matches for their national teams during the break, so some may need rest.

Curtis Jones, making his first start since returning from injury, could replace Dominik Szoboszlai, who played the entire 90 minutes against Forest.

Conor Bradley’s consistent bench appearances keep him match-fit, potentially earning him a spot in the lineup.

Darwin Nunez could play centrally as Liverpool aims to manage Jota’s fitness throughout the season.

Alternative Lineup:

Alisson; Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones; Salah, Nunez, Diaz

This season will be a learning experience for Slot and his team, requiring patience. However, a win at AC Milan, alongside their victory at Old Trafford, would be a strong indicator of Liverpool’s potential.