Slot axes Salah in eight changes – Liverpool predicted XI v Plymouth
Arne Slot could axe Mohamed Salah in eight changes to his side for the FA Cup clash between Liverpool and Plymouth on Sunday.
The Reds will be going into the fourth-round tie on a high after beating Tottenham 4-0 in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final which saw them advance to Wembley with an aggregate score of 4-1.
The Dutchman has a couple of injuries to contend with as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Tyler Morton will both be absent from the game.
However, Federico Chiesa could be given a chance to shine once again as the Italian will likely be the replacement for the sidelined Salah.
Mohamed Salah misses out for Liverpool once again
Since the 2024/25 season kicked off, the Reds have been the stand-out team in almost every competition they’ve taken part in.
At the moment, they’re topping the Premier League table with a six-point gap to second-placed Arsenal and, they also finished the Champions League group stage as the first-placed side, despite losing to PSV.
And, as the games have been coming thick and fast over the last few weeks, Slot has had to pick and choose which players to start against which teams.
Which is why it feels likely that Salah will be rested by Slot once again despite maintaining a pass accuracy of 73 per cent throughout their game against Tottenham [Sofascore].
Caoimhin Kelleher, on the other hand, is likely to keep his spot between the sticks after he won 100 per cent of his ground duels and also maintained a pass accuracy of 79 per cent.
However, the Reds’ defensive line is where we’ll see our first changes with Wataru Endo, Jarell Quansah and Kostas Tsimikas all likely to come in against the Pilgrims to allow Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate to rest up.
This season, Slot’s midfield has proved to be one of the most vital cogs within the Dutchman’s set-up due to their involvement in defence and attack.
Again, much like the back four, there are likely to be plenty of changes with Harvey Elliott and James McConnell set to come in and replace Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch in the starting XI with Curtis Jones the one keeping his starting spot.
And, despite Gravenberch successfully completing 66 per cent of the long balls he attempted as well as winning 100 per cent of his aerial duels he too could do with a rest.
Last but not least, in attack Slot could make a triple change with Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Salah all being replaced by Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Chiesa.
Federico Chiesa has another chance to impress Arne Slot
Salah was by far and away one of the Reds’ best players against Spurs on Thursday with the Egyptian having a hand in two of the Reds’ goals that were put away [Sofascore].
In addition to his goal and assist, the winger made two key passes in the tie and also had four shots on target.
He did lose possession of the ball 20 times but when you’re as involved as Salah is, you’re bound to lose possession often.
So, if Chiesa does come in to fill Salah’s boots, he has a lot to live up to, but, if he can perform to anywhere near the standard he showed against PSV in the Champions League on 29 January, Liverpool will be more than fine.