After dropping two of his usual starters against West Ham, Arne Slot must decide whether they merit a place in the Liverpool side against Leicester.

Liverpool are top of the form table, top of the league and us fans could be on top of the world come Sunday evening.

While it is unlikely that Arsenal will lose to Ipswich, a defeat at Portman Road would leave the Reds with a chance to claim the title this weekend.

Slot has insisted he isn’t thinking about the permutations, though, and is instead solely focusing on the job at hand, taking another three points.

Here’s how Liverpool could line up.

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Here’s what Slot revealed in his press conference:

• Alexander-Arnold “might” make the bench but will “definitely not start”
• Playing 90 minutes “isn’t easy” for Conor Bradley, as he continues to build his fitness after injury
• Therefore, expect to see the right-back replaced in the second half again

Having dropped Andy Robertson and Dominik Szoboszlai due to their poor showings at Fulham, Slot has a tricky decision to make on whether to bring them back after their absence from the start against West Ham.

Of the two replacements, Kostas Tsimikas and Curtis Jones, the latter is most likely to keep his place, especially given the Reds seemed to get considerably worse last weekend when he went off.

However, with Szoboszlai’s running power arguably being more suited to away games, the Hungarian could still get the nod over a disappointed Jones.

Here are the coach’s likely selection options:

• Robertson comes in for Tsimikas at left-back
• Bradley starts at right-back while Alexander-Arnold makes the bench
• The midfield of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Szoboszlai start their fifth game together in Liverpool’s last six

This is how Liverpool would line up:

Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Jota, Diaz

One area Slot may look to change up is the attack.

Diogo Jota was far from poor against West Ham, but the striker has only one goal in his last 13 appearances which could prompt a rethink from the head coach.

Against West Ham, we saw Liverpool finish the match with Diaz up front and Cody Gakpo on the left, an option Slot turned to frequently earlier in the campaign.

It could be the case that the Dutchman returns to that formation as he seeks to keep his best three forwards on the field.

• Gakpo starts on the left for the first time since the Goodison Park derby
• Jones retains his starting spot following a good performance against West Ham
• Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk play together for the 101st time in their careers

Here’s how this alternate team would look:

Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones; Salah, Diaz, Gakpo

Liverpool have kept just one clean sheet in their last six outings – that should be where the game plan grows from.

If the Reds can prevent a poor Leicester team from getting traction on the break, they should have no issue scoring across the 90 minutes.

Slot’s side should win whatever the number of changes he makes. However, with defeat meaning certain relegation for the hosts, Ruud van Nistelrooy’s team could lift their game in front of their own supporters.

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Arne Slot oversaw training on Friday ahead of a potential title-winning weekend for Liverpool when they travel to face Leicester on Sunday, and Trent Alexander-Arnold is in contention.

This weekend could see Liverpool crowned Premier League champions if Arsenal lose at Ipswich and they beat the Foxes, in turn relegating them to the Championship.

Alexander-Arnold could play his part after returning to training after four games out with an ankle injury, with Slot confirming on Friday that he is close to a return.

“Not to start but if today and tomorrow things go well, he might, might be on the bench,” Slot said of his vice-captain.

“But definitely not start because he’s out for five-and-a-half weeks and this is, today (Friday), probably his first session with the team.”

All smiles ahead of #LEILIV ? pic.twitter.com/0KHBiK8gFE

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 18, 2025

Liverpool’s No. 66 was spotted with his teammates in the gym and subsequently the outdoor pitches at the AXA Training Centre on Friday, boosting his chances of minutes.

Whether supporters want to see him on the pitch is another matter entirely as he is still expected to land at Real Madrid this summer, but Slot clearly intends to utilise the 26-year-old.

He was the only returning face with Joe Gomez continuing his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury behind the scenes, though hopes remain he can yet be involved before the end of the season.

Liverpool’s cameras spotted 18 outfield players in addition to Alisson and Caoimhin Kelleher on Friday, though Federico Chiesa was not one of them.

We cannot read into that too much currently as the Italian was involved earlier this week and there could be copious reasons, including just not being the focus for club cameras.

Liverpool will take a strong squad with them to Leicester and that will include Darwin Nunez after he missed the win over West Ham with what Slot explained was another bout of illness.

Goalkeepers: Alisson, Kelleher

Defenders: Van Dijk, Konate, Quansah, Robertson, Alexander-Arnold, Bradley, Tsimikas

Midfielders: Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Endo, Jones, Elliott

Forwards: Salah, Diaz, Nunez, Jota, Gakpo

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Arne Slot has provided an update on Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s fitness and reacted to Virgil van Dijk‘s new contract ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Leicester.

Alexander-Arnold has this week been back in training following the ankle injury that kept him out of Liverpool’s last five matches.

Slot has now added that “if today and tomorrow things go well, he might might be on the bench” against Leicester.

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The coach then insisted that Alexander-Arnold will “definitely not start” because he’s been out for five-and-a-half weeks and Friday was “his first session with the team.”

Conor Bradley should start instead but “for him to play 90 isn’t easy” either, explained Slot. It would be ideal to bring Trent off the bench in away game before returning to an unpredictable Anfield reception.

Read more here

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• “There is no doubt that Alexander Isak is admired” by Liverpool, wrote the Times‘ Paul Joyce – Newcastle are unlikely to sell, though, especially if they qualify for the Champions League

• Joyce also suggested that Liverpool will have a ‘big summer’ but this “will be less extensive” now Van Dijk and Mo Salah have signed big contracts

• Liverpool loanee Luke Chambers has returned to Liverpool for rehabilitation following a back injury with Wigan, report the Liverpool Echo – he won’t play again this season

• Jurgen Klopp‘s agent, Marc Kosicke, has downplayed rumours he will join Real Madrid, telling Sky Sports Germany: “Jurgen is very happy with his new role as Head of Global Soccer at Red Bull. He’s fully focused and happy there”

Virgil van Dijk‘s new contract is a statement of intent from Liverpool and his work off the pitch is increasingly important to the club, writes Jack Lusby.

“Journalists reporting around this new contract have expressed how open he is in post-match interviews in the mixed zone, never shying away regardless of the result.

“That is certainly in contrast to the hands-off approach of the player entrusted as his vice-captain, with Trent Alexander-Arnold avoiding impromptu exchanges with the media throughout what is widely expected to be his final season at Anfield.”

• After Man United progressed to the Europa League semi-finals in dramatic fashion, Ruben Amorim admitted he ‘might need to put some kids’ in to play against Wolves in the league

• Newcastle assistant manager Jason Tindall has suggested Jacob Murphy deserves an England call-up – only Salah has provided more assists this season in the Premier League

• Former Rochdale and Tranmere midfielder Joe Thompson has sadly died of cancer at the age of 36

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The manner in which Liverpool will win the league is a big talking point at the moment.

On this day in 1964, the Reds nailed it as they thrashed Arsenal 5-0 at Anfield to secure their first top-flight title in 17 years.

This was also the match that became famous for BBC Panorama filming the Kop singing and describing them as an “extraordinary cultural phenomenon”.

Let’s hope Anfield is in just as fine form when we face Tottenham next weekend!

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