Will Mohamed Salah start against Qarabag? Slot faces key Champions League call | OneFootball

Liverpool coach considers new attacking mix at Anfield

Will Mohamed Salah start against Qarabag? Slot faces key Champions League call

Liverpool coach Arne Slot must decide Mohamed Salah’s role before the Champions League match against Qarabag at Anfield on February 5.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is facing important selection decision involving Mohamed Salah ahead of the club’s final league phase match in Champions League against Qarabag.

The match will take place at Anfield on Wednesday 5 February as Liverpool look to secure direct qualification for the round of 16.

The fixture comes at crucial moment with Slot aiming to steady the team after recent setbacks.

Liverpool look to respond after Bournemouth defeat

Liverpool enter the Qarabag match following disappointing 3-2 loss to Bournemouth in the Premier League.

The defeat raised concerns about the team’s attacking efficiency as the Reds struggled to break down Bournemouth’s defensive setup.

According to Liverpool Echo, Slot is expected to make changes in attack, with Hugo Ekitike likely to return to the starting lineup despite underwhelming substitute appearance in the weekend match.

Salah, Gakpo and Wirtz compete for starting roles

While Ekitike is tipped to start, Slot’s biggest dilemma is deciding who will support the French striker.

The report suggests that Salah remains major talking point after dip in form earlier in the week.

At the same time, Cody Gakpo is pushing to return to Slot’s preferred front three making him strong candidate to start on the left flank.

Both Salah & Gakpo, however face serious competition from Florian Wirtz who is also in contention for starting place.

Slot is now considering all attacking combinations as he looks to choose the most effective lineup to avoid complications and confirm qualification smoothly.

Qualification still the main goal

Despite domestic frustration, Liverpool’s Champions League campaign remains on track.

The Qarabag match represents their final step in the league phase and opportunity to secure direct place in the knockout rounds.