Liverpool forced into Alexander Isak U-turn as Arne Slot plans major changes

Liverpool boss Arne Slot is expected to ring the changes once again for their Premier League clash this weekend. The Reds, who have enjoyed a perfect start to the season, visit Selhurst Park to face unbeaten Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.

After resting several key players in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over Southampton in the Carabao Cup, many of them are expected to return looking refreshed for the match in south London.

This includes Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk, who were part of the Liverpool contingent that attended Monday night's Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris. They will be joined by Ibrahima Konate, while Milos Kerkez, who was a substitute on Tuesday, is tipped to start at left-back.

Liverpool's head coach Slot faces a selection headache on the right side, with both Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley competing for the spot.

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A late decision is expected, but it wouldn't be surprising if Bradley, who came on as a second-half substitute at Anfield, gets the nod over the Dutch international, reports the Liverpool Echo.

In midfield, the crucial Ryan Gravenberch is set to return, leaving Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz battling for the remaining two spots in the engine room.

Wirtz could be back in action after being benched against the Saints following a substitute appearance in the Merseyside derby on Saturday, while Mac Allister, who recently became a dad, is set to continue his journey towards full fitness after a shortened pre-season programme.

Szoboszlai, one of the standout performers of the early season, may be hard to leave out, especially after enjoying a week off.

Up front, Mohamed Salah is set to return and Alexander Isak is likely to kick off the match, having made further progress in his quest for full match fitness on Tuesday night.

The Swedish international played the first half, which means he now has nearly 150 minutes of game time since May. While Slot would ideally prefer to bring the £125m man off the bench, Hugo Ekitike's suspension has forced a change.

Ekitike was shown a red card against the Saints for removing his shirt in celebration when already on a yellow card, a decision that Slot has criticised.

This means Isak will be given the responsibility of leading the line for the first time as a Liverpool player, unless his manager springs a surprise.

Federico Chiesa put in an excellent performance against Southampton, with his work rate and quality combining but it's important to note that his two assists came against a struggling second-tier side.

So, the burning question is: will Slot put his faith in Chiesa to replicate his Selhurst Park performance on a grander scale?

Considering the Italian ace was absent from the squad for the Merseyside derby, a place among the substitutes seems more plausible. Isak, even though he's not fully fit, appears to be a more reliable option.

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