Liverpool travel to Old Trafford without Alexander Isak, who is said to have picked up a groin injury in training. In his absence, Arne Slot has made two changes to the side, with Cody Gakpo set to spearhead the attack against Manchester United this afternoon.
Arne Slot is having to make do with a mountain of injury issues, as the confirmed Liverpool starting XI has come in for their tense away clash in the Premier League at Manchester United.
If Liverpool were to win today, it would be a phenomenal four league wins in a row for the visitors from Merseyside, with Slot also entering the history books as the first manager in the club’s illustrious history to win his first two meetings at Old Trafford.
Michael Carrick’s hosts will be very much up for the game, too, with a spectacle between the Reds and United often providing drama by the bucketload.
Indeed, United can clinch a rare league double over their North West bitter rivals if they win today, having secured a late 2-1 win at Anfield earlier in the season.
Still, Slot’s side relish the chance to upset their near neighbours on the road, and the Dutchman will be hoping this reshuffled lineup can deliver on Sunday afternoon.
Here’s everything you need to know about the team news.
Liverpool confirmed starting XI vs United
In goal, Freddie Woodman is handed another start, with Alisson not risked from the start at the Theatre of Dreams.
After a stunning first Premier League start against Crystal Palace, the pressure will be ramped up on the ex-Preston North End stopper’s shoulders to perform today, in another high-stakes game.
Helping out the inexperienced keeper at the back is Curtis Jones in the right-back spot, with both Ibrahima Konate and Virgil Van Dijk taking up the spaces as the two expected centre-backs, and the know-how experience of Andy Robertson remains at left-back, as Milos Kerkez has been suffering with an injury niggle which was revealed by Arne Slot during his pre match press conference on Friday.
Regardless of the Hungarian’s injury problems, the trusty Scotsman might have been given the nod, anyway, having scored against Palace with a poacher’s finish.
In a central midfield three, Slot has opted to go with Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, but it’s in attack where the head coach has had to tinker quite drastically.
The Reds’ attack at the moment isn’t at full strength, with Hugo Ekitike and Mohamed Salah both out. Salah would have loved another showdown at Old Trafford, if he was fit, as he has a staggering 16 goals next to his name against the Red Devils, across his nearly decade-long association with Liverpool.
Unfortunately, he is out of the team due to a hamstring injury, and with Alexander Isak also dropping out at the last minute, owing to a groin strain, the attack chosen for today’s clash between the two hated rivals must be different to what Slot originally had in mind.
Down the right wing, Slot has chosen Jeremie Frimpong, with Florian Wirtz on the left, who will want to mark his birthday with a goal or an assist.
Cody Gakpo makes up the final part of the Dutchman’s starting XI, as his lone striker, with Gakpo previously bagging four times against Carrick’s men, from seven career appearances.
One of those goals arrived in 2023’s whitewash 7-0 win for Liverpool, over Erik ten Hag’s atrocious Red Devils, as the hit-and-miss number 18 curled home an early effort to get the ball rolling for Jurgen Klopp’s unrelenting team.
On the bench, Slot could rely on some youth to get this team over the line if needs be, with 17-year-old Rio Nguhoma named among his substitutes once more, alongside breakout attacking sensation Will Wright, who benefits from Isak’s untimely injury.
Just off the back of scoring two strikes for the U21s in a friendly contest against Liberia, the ex-Salford City forward does appear to be the next off the fruitful production of youngsters that could be a hit in the senior ranks.
Alongside Wright, Mor Talla Ndiaye, Kieran Morrison, Kornel Misciur and Armin Pecsi have all travelled as part of a U21s contingent, with Morrison, Ndiaye and Pecsi all making the bench, alongside the teenage striker.
Will Wright be gifted a late opportunity to impress in Manchester?
Man Utd: Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko
Substitutes: Bayindir, Dorgu, Malacia, Mazraoui, Yoro, Mount, Ugarte, Amad, Zirkzee
Liverpool: Woodman; Jones, Van Dijk, Konate, Robertson; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Frimpong, Gakpo, Wirtz
Substitutes: Pecsi, Gomez, Kerkez, Chiesa, Nyoni, Morrison, Ngumoha, Ndiaye, Wright
