Liverpool starting XI for Bournemouth clash as injury blow results in three changes
Arne Slot is set to make three changes to his Liverpool team for today's Premier League meeting with Bournemouth after goalkeeper Alisson Becker was ruled out owing to a muscle injury
by Alan Smith · The MirrorLiverpool head coach Arne Slot could be forced into three changes for this afternoon’s Premier League meeting with Bournemouth.
And two weeks on from discussing his desire to leave Anfield in pursuit of regular starts, Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher is set to replace Alisson Becker between the posts after the Brazilian stopper sustained a muscle injury in midweek.
Andrew Robertson is in line to return at left back after missing the Champions League win away to Milan on Tuesday, with Kostas Tsimikas dropping out. And Luis Diaz will be expected to start instead of Cody Gakpo out wide.
However Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez must continue to wait for his first start under Slot – even though the new boss played down any suggestion that Nunez is not part of his plans after he was sprung from the substitutes' bench at San Siro.
Diogo Jota has been favoured as the first-choice No9 so far but Slot said the record £85m signing Nunez, 25, must keep working and that confidence in him to contribute across a long season remains strong.
“It’s always difficult because players, but also the media, only think you have confidence in a player if you play him," the Liverpool head coach said.
“We have confidence in all of them, otherwise you don’t bring a player in if you’re 3-1 up half-an-hour before the end or last week against Nottingham Forest, he came on half an hour before the end.
“There’s a lot of confidence in him. But there are two players for that position and I could even come up with more, who could play in that position. He’s in competition with Diogo, who’s done really well.
“But many games have to be played and there will be enough time to judge Darwin, if he improves and how he improves and if he can do special things for the club.”
Liverpool team to face Bournemouth: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Jota
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