Liverpool boss Arne Slot has named his starting XI for the Champions League clash with Bologna at Anfield with Darwin Nunez coming back into the side. Diogo Jota, who picked up a minor injury against Wolves, makes the bench.
Alisson Becker retains his place in the team between the sticks, of course, while Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson are once again the back four. Robertson picked up a knock against Wolves at the weekend when he was replaced by Joe Gomez but he insisted to reporters post-match that he would be fine to play in this one.
In midfield, it is the usual trio who start with Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister in front of Ryan Gravenberch. That has been the go-to midfield since the start of the campaign, though Curtis Jones, who is named among the substitutes, has been pushing to come into the side.
- Rio Ngumoha takes new step, Trey Nyoni hint and Liverpool earns European boost
Liverpool moves to hijack Man Utd's transfer plans with shock $93m swoop
In the forward line, Darwin Nunez comes in for Diogo Jota, who is on the bench for Liverpool having picked up a knock against Wolves. A scan has shown that he will not be out long, and indeed he could feature tonight, but he does drop out of the starting line-up. And Cody Gakpo is on the bench again, perhaps giving him a chance to start at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
"Of course I have heard a lot about European nights at Anfield and this is my first opportunity to experience one as Liverpool head coach, so it is something that I am very much looking forward to," Slot said during his pre-match press conference.
"We already have three points on the board thanks to our victory in Milan a couple of weeks ago, so now we have the opportunity to build on the positive start we have made and this time the chance comes in front of our own supporters. We should do everything we can to make the most of it.
"When I joined Liverpool I knew all about the club's history in Europe — the great moments, the great games, the success and so on – but I am also aware that everything that has been achieved has come through hard work, desire and ability. Nothing has ever been given to Liverpool. It has always been earned."
Liverpool starting XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Nunez, Diaz. Substitutes: Kelleher, Jaros, Gomez, Quansah, Bradley, Tsimikas, Morton, Endo, Jones, Nyoni, Gakpo, Jota.
