{"id":603486,"date":"2026-04-13T05:47:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T05:47:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/603486\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T05:47:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T05:47:09","slug":"liverpool-face-difficult-florian-wirtz-decision-as-arne-slot-considers-defensive-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/603486\/","title":{"rendered":"Liverpool face difficult Florian Wirtz decision as Arne Slot considers defensive change"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Liverpool are next up against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League with Arne Slot facing some selection posers<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Liverpool head coach Arne Slot\" loading=\"eager\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0_GettyImages-2270312708.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Liverpool head coach Arne Slot\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Liverpool head coach Arne Slot(Image: ANDY BUCHANAN \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Liverpool eased the pain of three successive defeats with victory at home to Fulham in the <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/barclays-premier-league\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Premier League<\/a> on Saturday evening. Teenager Rio Ngumoha and veteran <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/mohamed-salah\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Mohamed Salah<\/a> both netted in the first half as the Reds secured a 2-0 victory to strengthen their place in the top five.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/arne-slot\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Arne Slot&#8217;s<\/a> side will now aim to produce a remarkable recovery in the <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/uefa-champions-league\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Champions League<\/a> when they entertain Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-final second leg on Tuesday looking to overcome a 2-0 first-leg deficit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">And here we look ahead to the changes Reds head coach <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/arne-slot\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Slot<\/a> could make when his team are next in action.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE!<a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LiverpoolEchoLFC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"> All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo&#8217;s dedicated LFC Facebook page<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Kerkez waits<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">As expected, Slot <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/mohamed-salah-andy-robertson-return-33751558\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">rotated heavily for the second of three games in seven days at the weekend<\/a>. Now the question will be how many of those rested to the bench will be recalled for the PSG showdown.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">With Alisson Becker not expected to yet be available, <a aria-label=\"Giorgi MamardashviliLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/giorgi-mamardashvili\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Giorgi Mamardashvili<\/a> will continue in goal after keeping only his second clean sheet in seven Premier League outings. Freddie Woodman is the deputy, while youngster Kornel Misciur was also on the bench in France.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Jeremie Frimpong will be challenged by Joe Gomez for the right-back role, with Conor Bradley out for the season and Calvin Ramsay ineligible for the Champions League.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Gomez is also an option at centre-back although Ibrahima Konate and captain <a aria-label=\"Virgil van DijkLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/virgil-van-dijk\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Virgil van Dijk<\/a> have had those positions locked down for much of the campaign. Giovanni Leoni remains out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">And at left-back, Milos Kerkez will hope for a recall despite <a aria-label=\"Andy RobertsonLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/andy-robertson\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Andy Robertson<\/a> having a strong showing against Fulham at the weekend.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Wirtz or Szoboszlai?<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">There was the unusual sight of neither Ryan Gravenberch nor <a aria-label=\"Alexis Mac AllisterLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/alexis-mac-allister\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Alexis Mac Allister<\/a> starting a Premier League game on Saturday, with both almost certain to be reintroduced to the double pivot against PSG.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Slot&#8217;s midfield options have been further limited by Curtis Jones joining Wataru Endo on the sidelines after picking up a groin problem against Fulham, meaning it will be a straight fight between Florian Wirtz and <a aria-label=\"Dominik SzoboszlaiLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/dominik-szoboszlai\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Dominik Szoboszlai<\/a> for the number 10 role with Liverpool likely to maintain their usual 4-2-3-1 approach.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Teenager Trey Nyoni continues to rack up more minutes with cameos from the bench. Stefan Bajcetic remains out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ngumoha question<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ngumoha&#8217;s impressive showing against Fulham has heightened calls for his inclusion from the start, but the 17-year-old will face strong competition from Wirtz and Cody Gakpo on the left flank.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a aria-label=\"Mohamed SalahLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/mohamed-salah\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Mohamed Salah<\/a> similarly shone when recalled on the right and will be favourite to continue, with Federico Chiesa another option.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Up top, Gakpo may be expected to make way for Hugo Ekitike while <a aria-label=\"Alexander IsakLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/alexander-isak\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Alexander Isak<\/a> got more minutes under the belt having made his comeback in Paris after more than three months out. Youngster Kieran Morrison could be among the substitutes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Liverpool are next up against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League with Arne Slot facing some selection posers&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":603487,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[563],"tags":[22261,64,63,596,7886,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-603486","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-arne-slot","9":"tag-au","10":"tag-australia","11":"tag-football","12":"tag-liverpool-fc","13":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/603486","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=603486"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/603486\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/603487"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=603486"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=603486"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=603486"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}