Arne Slot managed his squad last week and it got the desired result against Aston Villa, and now there are two players who will be looking to force their way back into the XI.
Liverpool ended a four-match losing run in the Premier League on Saturday, which coincided with their first clean sheet since September 14.
It was a long-awaited result, but the next test pits the Reds against a Real Madrid side that have won 13 of their 14 matches across all competitions.
There could be a temptation from Slot to name an unchanged lineup for the Champions League match, but two players will be hoping that is not the case.
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After Liverpool’s opening training session, this is what we know:
Liverpool’s XI vs. Real
With injuries in key positions, much of Liverpool’s lineup picks itself.
Giorgi Mamardashvili, Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Dominik Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike are shoo-ins to keep their place in the side.
Ryan Gravenberch made his comeback against Villa and, as long as he has had no adverse reaction with his ankle, will be the deepest-lying midfielder.
It leaves left-back and the midfield combination as the only positions with question marks, with Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz both vying to return after being benched on Saturday.
With Robertson playing the full 90 minutes, Kerkez can inject fresh legs, while Wirtz appears more comfortable with the physicality of the Champions League.
This would see Szoboszlai shift deeper and Wirtz take up the advanced position:
Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
There could be the option of naming an unchanged lineup for only the third time this season, a luxury that has not always been afforded to Slot.
This would task Mac Allister with his third start in a row, immediately after his first 90 minutes of the season, and Slot could be wary of pushing the Argentine too far.
However, Liverpool could do with some consistency and this lineup would offer that, with midfield changes then to come in the second half, in addition to the introduction of Kerkez:
Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike
Liverpool’s switch to Champions League endeavours promises to have Anfield poised for a hostile night, for which there is no need for extra motivation against Real Madrid.
A season-defining week is on the cards and there is no better way to build momentum than with a timely win on Tuesday evening.