Liverpool will be looking to bounce back from suffering four consecutive defeats when they make the trip from Anfield to Bundesliga giants Eintracht Frankfurt for a Champions League encounter on Wednesday, with boss Arne Slot seeking to get back to winning ways for the first time since September 20.
The Reds were consigned to a 2-1 loss by arch-rivals Manchester United last weekend, thanks to Harry Maguire’s late header, and that has resulted in them falling four points adrift of table-topping Arsenal as the Merseyside heavyweights aim to defend their top flight title.
Eintracht Frankfurt also conceded a late goal on Sunday, resulting in them having to settle for a draw against Freiburg, and GIVEMESPORT has predicted who will be involved as the German side and Liverpool prepare to lock horns at Deutsche Bank Park.
Eintracht Frankfurt Team News
Jonathan Burkardt has been tasked to fill the void left by big-money Liverpool signing Hugo Ekitike following his summer arrival from Bundesliga rivals Mainz and, having found the back of the net twice during the stalemate with Freiburg last time out, the Germany international is in line to lead the line once again.
Although head coach Dino Toppmoller has close to a fully fit squad to select from, teenage full-back Elias Baum is still recovering from a hamstring problem sustained earlier this month and Oscar Hojlund has been ruled out. Jessic Ngankam is ineligible after not being included in his side’s Champions League roster.
Toppmoller Drops Team News Update
Speaking at his pre-match press conference about who is out of contention for Eintracht Frankfurt, Toppmoller said:
“Elias Baum and Oscar Hojlund are out due to injury. Apart from that, everyone’s available. Rasmus Kristensen is someone I always want on the pitch. If he does start, he probably won’t play the whole match; if he doesn’t start, he’ll come off the bench. That much I can reveal.”
Eintracht Frankfurt Predicted XI
Eintracht Frankfurt Predicted XI: Zetterer; Kristensen, Koch, Amenda, Theate; Larsson, Chaibi; Doan, Uzun, Brown; Burkardt.
Eintracht Frankfurt Predicted Substitutes: Santos (GK), Collins (DEF), Chandler (DEF), Buta (DEF), Knauff (MID), Skhiri (MID), Dahoud (MID), Bahoya (MID), Gotze (MID), Wahi (FWD), Batshuayi (FWD).
Liverpool Team News
Ryan Gravenberch is a major doubt for Liverpool’s trip to Eintracht Frankfurt after he suffered a twisted ankle when challenging Manchester United goalscorer Bryan Mbeumo last weekend, which would result in Slot having to make an alteration in the middle of the park as he goes in search of three points.
Giorgi Mamardashvili will continue deputising for the missing Alisson Becker between the sticks, while Giovanni Leoni is out of action for the long-term after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury during the Reds’ Carabao Cup victory against Southampton last month.
Alexander Isak, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who joined for a combined total of close to £232million during the summer transfer window, are expected to be named among the substitutes.
Slot Drops Team News Update
Slot’s scheduled pre-match press conference was cancelled due to Liverpool’s flight to Frankfurt being delayed, meaning he was unable to give fresh insight into the severity of Gravenberch’s injury. But, following the defeat to Manchester United last weekend, he said:
“I took him off because he twisted his ankle. Is he an injury concern? That’s what we have to wait and see tomorrow, but we have to play in two days again.
“We have to play three games in seven days, like we had to do after the last international break. There is not a lot of time for players to recover, but the good thing is we have more than one good midfielder.”
Liverpool Predicted XI
Liverpool Predicted XI: Mamardashvili; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Mac Allister; Gakpo, Wirtz, Salah; Ekitike.
Liverpool Predicted Substitutes: Woodman (GK), Gomez (DEF), Kerkez (DEF), Bradley (DEF), Frimpong (DEF), Nyoni (MID), Endo (MID), Chiesa (FWD), Ngumoha (FWD), Danns (FWD), Isak (FWD).