Liverpool predicted XI vs Arsenal as £29m signing misses out and Arne Slot makes right-back call

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Liverpool manager Arne Slot must decide whether to bring Connor Bradley back after injury in their Premier League clash with Arsenal, or persevere with Dominik Szoboszlai.

Jeremie Frimpong, the £29.5m summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen, will miss the home fixture and is expected to be out until after the upcoming international break.

Szoboszlai deputised at right-back in Liverpool’s late win at Newcastle as Connor Bradley made his comeback from injury off the bench in the second half, so Slot has to determine whether the youngster can start the meeting of last season’s Premier League top two.

Further forward, Slot has decisions to make in attack as Hugo Ekitike continues his fast start to life at Liverpool but Florian Wirtz has taken a little longer to get going.

Predicted Liverpool XI vs Chelsea, Connor Bradley and Florian Wirtz start

Alisson will continue in goal, and Slot has confirmed that Virgil van Dijk is fine after Anthony Gordon’s red card challenge on him at Newcastle. He will continue alongside Ibrahima Konate, with Milos Kerkez on the left.

Even with Alexis Mac Allister back in training, he is still a doubt, so there is no need to rush the midfielder back so soon in the season. Bradley has trained the whole week, and his inclusion would allow Szoboszlai to go back into midfield alongside Ryan Gravenberch.

Cody Gakpo and Mo Salah are obvious choices on the flanks, as is three-goal striker Hugo Ekitike. Florian Wirtz could perhaps be at risk of being dropped, however.

Slot will likely persevere with Wirtz despite a quiet two games so far in his Liverpool career, with a mouth-watering clash against Arsenal a perfect stage to announce his arrival to the Premier League.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot wants more from Hugo Ekitike, starting against Arsenal

Ekitike has three goals in two Premier League games so far, however Slot is already challenging him publicly to improve his off-the-ball work in Liverpool’s build-up.

“When Lucho (Luis Diaz) played there last season he was part of our build-up,” Slot said. “The most simple answer to what he can improve is his match fitness.

Hugo Ekitike defensive statistics so far this season. (Source: Fotmob)

• Duels won – 8 (38.1%)
• Fouls won – 1
• Recoveries – 2
• Touches – 61
• Touches in opposition box – 8

“So I expect him to do a lot more without the ball than he already does because he is already working hard. But that is normal as he had to adjust to a different league and a different playing style.

“There is the main point of improvement, which is also completely normal because he came a bit later in pre-season so to adapt to the intensity levels without the ball, they are the small steps to take.”

Like Wirtz, Ekitike can make a statement of intent with an influential performance against an Arsenal team who have ambitions of taking Liverpool’s Premier League title off them in May.