Slot axes Konate, Elliott rewarded with start – Liverpool predicted XI v Southampton
Arne Slot could drop Ibrahima Konate as one of five changes when Liverpool host Southampton at Anfield on Saturday.
Slot will have returned to Merseyside from Paris knowing his side got away with one in their Champions League round-of-16 tie against PSG, winning 1-0 despite being completely dominated.
Liverpool were poor compared to the usual standards they’ve set this season and didn’t have a shot on target until the 87th minute – with that being the winner from substitute Harvey Elliott’s first touch.
With Alisson’s nine saves to thank for giving Liverpool the edge ahead of next week’s second leg, Liverpool ultimately got the job done and will now turn focus back to league matters.
Konate one of five axed for Liverpool v Southampton
With Liverpool 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League table and facing a team who’ve manage to collect just nine points all season, Saturday’s match at Anfield is already seen as a forgone conclusion.
Slot won’t be treating the match as such, but he’s still likely to make numerous changes and keep his best players fresh for the visit of PSG on Tuesday, with axeings across the defence, midfield and frontline.
| Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GD | Points |
| 1 | Liverpool | 28 | 20 | 7 | 1 | +40 | 67 |
| 20 | Southampton | 28 | 2 | 3 | 22 | –46 | 9 |
Konate is be the first candidate to drop out after being run ragged in the first half by PSG’s Bradley Barcola; lucky not to concede a penalty which may have resulted in a very different night for the Reds.
Andy Robertson’s minutes are continuing to be managed by Slot and he’s also likely to be rested, as are Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai after Liverpool’s midfield was cut to ribbons at time by PSG.
Mohamed Salah also had a rare off-day on the right flank, as did Diogo Jota up front, but it’s only the latter who is likely to come out of the side, with Cody Gakpo still a doubt to face the Saints at Anfield.
Harvey Elliott earns start for Liverpool v Southampton
Although Slot does have injury worries to deal with in the form of Gakpo’s absence, he still has a number of able deputies to call upon against the Saints, after their substitutes made the difference against PSG.
Darwin Nunez’s knock-down and assist teed Elliott up to arrive late and score the winner with his first touch, and it’ll be no surprise to see the duo take their places in the starting lineup off the back of that.
Elliott and Alexis Mac Allister will likely be joined in midfield by Curtis Jones after he also provided an impact off the bench in Paris, while Kostas Tsimikas will surely return in place of Robertson at left-back.
Virgil van Dijk and Alisson between the sticks are must-picks at the back despite Konate’s axing, with Jarell Quansah having more than enough quality to step in and possibly displace him for the second leg.