Arne Slot set to surprise a few people with Liverpool’s Champions League line-up against Lille

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Liverpool face Lille in the Champions League on Tuesday as they look to maintain their 100 per cent record in the competition this season.

The Reds have been the team to beat in Europe and with two games of the League Phase left to play they look certain to progress into the knockout stages.

However, despite their incredible form in 2024, Liverpool are still not yet assured of a place in the top eight and a place in the last-16.

A win against Lille would secure that, though, and the Reds are favourites to beat the French side at Anfield.

Lille are no mugs, however, and after beating both Real and Atletico Madrid and drawing with Juventus, Les Dogues sit handily in eighth place in the Champions League table.

And with Arne Slot fully aware of the threat Bruno Genesio’s side will carry, the Liverpool head coach is reportedly set to spring a slight surprise with his starting XI.

Arne Slot set to go strong for Liverpool

Although Lille are a good team, Tuesday’s game would look – on paper – like a good chance for Slot to rotate his Liverpool squad.

The Reds have a very win-able home game against Ipswich on Saturday and with the job almost done in the Champions League, this should be an opportunity for Arne to rest a few before another busy period.

However, according to journalist David Lynch, the Dutchman is unlikely to see things that way.

Speaking on his YouTube channel on Monday, Lynch reports that Slot is set to surprise a few Liverpool supporters and pick a strong line-up against the Ligue 1 side.

READ MORE: Arne Slot reveals Diogo Jota’s latest injury ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League tie vs Lille

“I’ve heard a lot of suggestions the idea that Liverpool would rotate heavily for this game against Lille,” says the reporter.

“I have to say I don’t actually expect that will be the case. It’s my understanding really that Arne Slot is going to go strong for this one.”

Who could play for Liverpool against Lille?

Fans heading to the ground – and watching on telly – on Tuesday may be excited to see the likes of Federico Chiesa or Harvey Elliott given a run-out against Lille.

But according to Lynch, that is unlikely to be the case. At least not from the start.

“I don’t think it’s going to be full rotation with a Cheisa or a Harvey Elliott coming in,” he says. “But I do think there’s a chance we do see the odd change across the team just to freshen things up in certain areas.”

Lynch goes on to suggest that Curtis Jones coming in for Alexis Mac Allister, Darwin Nunez getting a start and perhaps a change at left-back could be the only ones Slot decides to make.

Winning this one would give the Dutch coach the chance to fully rotate for the final group game against PSV next week. But in such a busy period of the season, it’s still a slightly surprising call from Slot.