Liverpool and Inter Milan faced off in a Champions League fixture on Tuesday evening.
With Mohamed Salah left at home and a couple of players sidelined, Arne Slot was forced to make some key changes.
Surprisingly, Joe Gomez was given the nod at right-back ahead of Conor Bradley, despite the latter being set to miss this weekend’s Premier League game due to suspension.
Who was your Man of the Match during Liverpool’s brilliant 1-0 win over Inter Milan?
Elsewhere, the absences of Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa forced Slot to try Alexander Isak in a makeshift left-wing role.
Liverpool started the tie well, with Curtis Jones among those to impress.
The Reds thought they had got their reward for a much-improved display in the 31st minute when Ibrahima Konate headed home, but his goal was ruled out after a VAR check.
The VAR gods were on their side in the 87th minute, however, when Dominik Szoboszlai converted from 12 yards after a very soft spot-kick was awarded following a review.
Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak experiment
It always seemed somewhat strange that Ekitike and Isak were signed in the same transfer window for big fees.
Both are first-choice strikers, yet Liverpool only ever really play with one out-and-out centre-forward.
Previously, Slot has said Isak and Ekitike can play together if the latter starts on the left, and the Frenchman has been used out wide for his country this season.
Tuesday’s match was the first time we had seen both number nines start a match together, and fans were no doubt excited.
It could have solved one of Slot’s biggest problems and allowed Ekitike, who is the Reds’ top scorer this season, to start on a more regular basis while keeping the British transfer record addition happy.
When all was said and done, Isak had a tough night and was taken off after having very little impact.
How does Arne Slot get the best out of Alexander Isak going forward? 🤔
Arne Slot’s right-back decision was bold
Surprisingly, Joe Gomez started the meeting on the right of Liverpool’s back-four.
Conor Bradley returned to the squad against Leeds United following an injury lay-off and provided an assist for Ekitike.
However, Bradley was booked in that clash and will now miss the meeting with Brighton and Hove Albion this weekend.
So, given Gomez has been playing through an injury in recent weeks, the decision to start him against Inter seemed somewhat odd.
It means the defender will have to play twice in one week after featuring in all three of the Reds’ matches last term.
With Jeremie Frimpong still sidelined, let’s hope nothing happens to Gomez before or during the Brighton clash; otherwise, we will be back to having a central midfielder filling in at right-back.
Curtis Jones needs to start more
One thing has become apparent in the last 180 minutes of football Liverpool have played: Jones needs to start more.
The midfielder was one of the better performers against Leeds on Saturday, providing a line of cover for the defence in a midfield pivot alongside Ryan Gravenberch.
Granted, it all went a bit wrong at Elland Road thanks to Konate’s silly penalty, but the midfield duo were once again excellent against Inter.
Jones has been in and out of the team this term, but the energy and creativity he adds cannot be underestimated.
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