Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs. Marseille: Slot Balances Major Return With Big Worry

The seventh matchday of the Champions League will serve up a real test.

Liverpool’s side will be reinforced for their trip to France. | Jan Kruger/Getty Images

A considerable Xabi Alonso-sized shadow is starting to loom over Arne Slot as he takes Liverpool to Marseille on matchday seven of the Champions League, despite the Dutchman overseeing a 12-game unbeaten run on Merseyside.

Four Premier League draws in succession have placed Slot’s status under scrutiny once again, with more and more supporters coming around to the idea of an Alonso pursuit.

Liverpool’s title defence has been a disaster, and their form in Europe hasn’t exactly suggested that they’re capable of conquering the continent this season. Still, the Reds are well placed to make a push for a top-eight finish, with a pair of wins to wrap up the league phase potentially being enough to qualify automatically for the round of 16.

However, a trip to Marseille in the Champions League isn’t for the faint hearted, with Liverpool poised for a hostile welcome on their first visit to the Velodrome since 2008.

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Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs. Marseille (4-2-3-1)

Florian Wirtz has found some form. | Visionhaus/Getty Images

GK: Alisson—Liverpool’s No. 1 has stayed injury-free over the past few weeks, and he even kept a clean sheet on the road at Arsenal two weeks ago. Marseille’s dynamic frontline are bound to test him.

RB: Jeremie Frimpong—The summer arrival was never going to be a direct Trent Alexander-Arnold replacement, and the Dutchman has been used in a more advanced role at times this season. However, Conor Bradley’s injury means Frimpong will earn plenty of starts in Slot’s back four.

CB: Joe Gomez—Ibrahima Konaté is a doubt for the game after returning to France for personal reasons in the build-up to it. Gomez is ready to step in if Slot opts against picking him.

CB: Virgil van Dijk—Van Dijk will likely go eye-to-eye with another veteran on Wednesday night, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang saving his best work for the Champions League this season.

LB: Milos Kerkez—The Hungarian hasn’t yet developed into the sure fire hit he was slated to be in the summer, but he’s at least put a run of games together in Slot’s starting XI of late.

CM: Ryan Gravenberch—Gravenberch has once again been a mainstay in Slot’s midfield, and the Liverpool boss would be foolish to leave the Dutch midfielder out here.

CM: Alexis Mac Allister—Curtis Jones should partner Gravenberch again, but Slot may opt to rotate in the middle of the park with World Cup winner Mac Allister coming back in.

RW: Mohamed Salah—It was once thought that Salah would be consigned to the back benches after returning from AFCON, but the winger’s reconciliation with Slot means he’s back in contention right away.

AM: Dominik Szoboszlai—If Liverpool are to disrupt Marseille’s intricate build-up on Wednesday night, they need Szoboszlai to be wreaking havoc in the first pressing line.

LW: Florian Wirtz—Wirtz’s improvement has been a source of encouragement as of late, and we could see the German drift inside from the left at the Velodrome.

ST: Hugo Ekitiké—Ekitiké highlighted his potential to perform out wide at the weekend, playing a big part in Wirtz’s goal with a mazy run down the left byline. However, the Frenchman, who’s scored just once in the competition, will lead Liverpool’s line on Wednesday.

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A win for Liverpool could see them into the top eight of the league phase table. | FotMo

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