MatchLiverpool v Southampton: Team news
Arne Slot explained the rationale for any changes he makes to his Liverpool line-up against Southampton on Saturday.
The Reds switch back to Premier League duty at Anfield, three days on from clinching a 1-0 Champions League win away against Paris Saint-Germain.
Consolidating a 13-point advantage at the summit will be their aim versus Saints, who sit at the foot of the table, ahead of the decisive return leg with PSG and then the Carabao Cup final with Newcastle United.
"If, if I make the choice to play other players, that is because I think that is the biggest chance to win the game tomorrow and not because I want to rest them for the game against Paris Saint-Germain," Slot told his pre-match press conference on Friday morning.
"So, the only way I make a change is because it's only two days in between, and then I might feel that playing someone else is a better option, because we have many players that are of equal quality.
"But that then only has to do with us getting a bigger chance of winning the game against Southampton than it has anything to do with the Paris Saint-Germain game."
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Watch on YouTubeCody Gakpo is a doubt for the 3pm GMT kick-off having travelled to France but not been involved in the squad for the first leg against PSG on Wednesday night.
At the time of Slot's media briefing, it was unknown if the No.18 will be ready to participate in the clash with Southampton.
"He didn't train yesterday yet, so let's see if he can train with us today," said the head coach.
"Again, [a] close call it will probably be. It's not a long-term injury but he still had a bit of pain yesterday so he was not able to train. Let's see where he is today, so I can't give you the answer yet."
Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez and Tyler Morton are the other Liverpool players currently dealing with injuries.
Slot and assistant Sipke Hulshoff will not be on the touchline for this game as they complete a two-match FA ban.
"It's not ideal but I've said before, with John Heitinga I have a very good replacement," said Slot. "He did so well at Ajax Amsterdam and he did really well in his first game in charge as well."
For Southampton, James Bree is the only player ruled out of the trip to Merseyside.
It means Jan Bednarek and former Reds midfielder Adam Lallana are set to be available again after the injuries they sustained last month.
Kyle Walker-Peters also appears to have shaken off the knock that forced him off in Saints' most recent outing against Chelsea.
"We are all good, only James Bree is out," manager Ivan Juric told reporters on Thursday. "I can say that when we had our defensive [options], we were much better with Jan and with [Taylor] Harwood-Bellis.
"I didn't have to adapt anybody who was there in the defence. Now everybody is coming back. This is good news for us."
Last match
PSG 0-1 Liverpool (March 5): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz, Jota.
Chelsea 4-0 Southampton (February 25): Ramsdale, Sugawara, Bree, Bella-Kotchap, Aribo, Walker-Peters, Downes, Smallbone, Fernandes, Kamaldeen, Onuachu.