Liverpool lineup options vs. Man City, Ibrahima Konate confirms he’s unavailable with Alexander-Arnold and Gomez to start in defence & Caoimhin Kelleher decision made as Alisson Becker returns…

Liverpool’s lineup considerations against Man City include a potential opportunity for Gomez and a decision regarding Nunez.

The Reds have a significant chance to extend their lead over Man City to 11 points with a win on Sunday, and Arne Slot faces several key selection choices.

Currently in excellent form, Liverpool can further assert their dominance by securing three points against Pep Guardiola’s team, who have faced three consecutive defeats in the Premier League.

A strong performance against Real Madrid in their previous match has provided Liverpool with positive momentum, although it also brought some injury concerns.

With this context, here’s a possible lineup Slot might choose for Sunday’s match.

During a press conference on Thursday, Slot was limited in his updates on injuries but confirmed that Trent Alexander-Arnold is available to start:

– Alexander-Arnold is fit to return

– Conor Bradley may be out for up to four weeks

– Ibrahima Konate is confirmed unavailable and is now focused on recovery

– Alisson, Diogo Jota, and Kostas Tsimikas are not expected to return

Projected Liverpool XI against City

Although Alexander-Arnold did not play against Real Madrid, his return is timely given Bradley’s hamstring issue.

With his availability, he is expected to reclaim his position at right-back, partnering with Joe Gomez, as Konate is sidelined due to a knee injury sustained on Wednesday.

This adjustment will result in two changes to the right side of the defense, necessitating Andy Robertson to start his third match in eight days, as Gomez can no longer fill in at left-back.

In midfield, Dominik Szoboszlai is set to bring fresh energy after only playing seven minutes in the last match, stepping in for the impressive Curtis Jones.

Up front, we may see the same attacking trio that concluded the previous game, with Cody Gakpo starting after netting his seventh goal of the season.

Alexander-Arnold and Gomez are set to feature in the defensive lineup. Szoboszlai will return to the advanced midfield position, taking over from Jones.

Gakpo is expected to start on the left wing, with Luis Diaz positioned centrally.

This would mark four changes from Wednesday’s match, resulting in the following lineup:

Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz.

With Konate now concentrating on his recovery, Gomez is poised to make his first league start of the season, stepping in ahead of Jarell Quansah.

Caoimhin Kelleher is likely to retain his place, regardless of Alisson’s fitness status, while there remains a possibility that Jones could replace Alexis Mac Allister in midfield.

Slot has occasionally kept us uncertain about his attacking trio, and it is still possible that Darwin Nunez will continue in the central position, this time with Gakpo on his left.