Paul Merson is anticipating to see Dominik Szoboszlai deployed at right-back when Liverpool welcome Newcastle to Anfield on Saturday night time.
Arne Slot goes into the sport with solely Calvin Ramsay (who’s made three senior Reds appearances) as a pure senior choice for that position, with Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley each sidelined by harm and the versatile Joe Gomez additionally dominated out.
The LFC head coach turned to Wataru Endo as an emergency right-back when the Netherlands worldwide needed to be substituted in opposition to Qarabag in midweek, however with the Magpies more likely to pose a far sterner take a look at, the 47-year-old might look elsewhere for a solution to that problematic place.
Merson anticipating Szoboszlai to start out at right-back v Newcastle
Merson believes that Liverpool’s Hungarian midfielder will get the nod at right-back tonight, writing in his newest Sportskeeda column: ‘After the harm to Jeremie Frimpong, I anticipate Dominik Szoboszlai to play right-back on this sport.
‘Newcastle have robust broad gamers like Harvey Barnes, Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga, so I don’t suppose Liverpool will use Wataru Endo like they did in opposition to Qarabag.
‘Szoboszlai is the most effective accessible selection at right-back as a result of he has finished fairly properly taking part in there, however Liverpool haven’t been as dominant as they’ve been in midfield this season. In the event you take Szoboszlai out of that midfield, you have got one other large hole to fill there.’
What are Slot’s choices for right-back tonight?
Merson has come across the crux of the issue going through Slot at current – he may deploy the Hungary captain at right-back tonight, however that’d depart a big hole in midfield to fill, albeit that the projected return of Ibrahima Konate ought to liberate Ryan Gravenberch to revert to his regular position.
Szoboszlai is also retained in his strongest place in favour of Curtis Jones (who’s accessible once more after sickness dominated him out in opposition to Qarabag) taking part in in defence, though that too would see a midfielder having to be redeployed in an unfamiliar berth.
Appearances at right-back
This season
Complete for Liverpool
Dominik Szoboszlai
5
5
Curtis Jones
1
6
Ramsay is the one pure senior right-back accessible to Slot, however given the Scotsman’s high-level inexperience, it appears unbelievable that he’ll be entrusted to start out in opposition to a Newcastle crew who pose a big attacking risk out broad.
No less than Gomez ought to quickly be again to present Liverpool a extra seasoned choice on the right-hand facet of defence, however his unavailability for tonight presents the top coach with a big dilemma.
Our expectation is that Merson shall be confirmed proper and Szoboszlai shall be requested to deputise at right-back, a task wherein he has carried out admirably this season when wanted however which additionally takes away from the qualities he supplies additional up the pitch.
That in itself sums up simply how dire the Reds’ defensive state of affairs has change into on this most galling of seasons.
You possibly can watch Slot’s full post-Qarabag press convention beneath, through Empire of the Kop on YouTube:
