Liverpool have hinted at five players who are set to feature against Brighton and Hove Albion at Anfield this weekend.
Just three days after the two teams faced off on the south coast in their League Cup fourth-round tie, they will meet again as the Premier League returns.
Arne Slot made eight changes to the lineup that started the 2-2 draw against Arsenal, while Brighton head coach Fabian Huerzeler also made the same number of alterations.
Given the relatively short turnaround between the two matches, further changes are anticipated for the league encounter.
Speaking to the media during a Friday morning press conference, Slot acknowledged this likelihood.
The Dutchman said: “It’s not weird, especially because both teams didn’t start with the team they will start with on Saturday.
“I think for both managers it’s a positive thing because you know even more about the opponent.
“Although, players make the game and it is, of course, a difference if a different player plays.
“The playing style might be the same but the quality of the players make nine out of 10 times the difference.
“That changes the game on Saturday compared to the one on Wednesday.”
The club have hinted at potential returns to the lineup as they prepare for their next match.
On Saturday morning, a matchday graphic shared across the official social media channels prominently featured a full-length portrait of captain Virgil van Dijk.
Although van Dijk was named on the bench during the match against Brighton, he remained unused.
Slot opted for Ibrahima Konate to replace Jarell Quansah in added time, but it seems the Liverpool boss is contemplating a major decision to reunite his first-choice defensive partnership for the upcoming Premier League clash.
The graphic also showcased a photo of Mohamed Salah from a recent match at Anfield.
The forward started as a substitute on the south coast but came on for the final 20 minutes, replacing Cody Gakpo, who had been on a hat-trick.
Additionally, the image included Curtis Jones celebrating his winning goal against Chelsea, with Darwin Nunez and Trent Alexander-Arnold also in the frame.
Jones played the full 90 minutes against Brighton, while Nunez entered the match at the same time as Salah, taking the place of Dominik Szoboszlai.
However, Alexander-Arnold was not included in the matchday squad and is expected to return to action soon.
It’s worth noting that the graphic for the previous cup tie featured Luis Diaz, Gakpo, and Jones, all of whom started that game.
Alexis Mac Allister also shared a personal matchday image on his Instagram story on Friday night, looking forward to another reunion with his former club.
He highlighted the kick-off time in his native Argentina, and fans in South America will be hoping the midfielder returns to the starting lineup after playing just over half an hour in midweek.
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