Darwin Núñez and Trent Alexander-Arnold should have just made Liverpool decision obvious
Though it was not from a very high bar, to say the least, Liverpool did improve for a while against Atalanta on Thursday. The Europa League campaign is now over but the Reds did at least win 1-0 on the night in Bergamo; the damage had been inflicted a week earlier.
Jürgen Klopp made changes and they worked to a large degree. Trent Alexander-Arnold looked impressive until he ran out of steam, making his first start since getting injured around two months ago. Cody Gakpo was a positive influence in the center, justifying his place ahead of the frustrating Darwin Núñez.
Liverpool clearly didn't do enough to put Atalanta under any true pressure in terms of the tie even after Mohamed Salah opened the scoring from the penalty spot — though had the Egyptian managed to find the back of the net with a lob to make it 2-0, things could have been different. But there were a few glimmers of hope.
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In time, Alexander-Arnold will improve again as his fitness builds. He, for sure, should be in the starting XI against Fulham on Sunday even if he almost certainly won't manage a full 90. Gakpo should keep his place in the side as well, whether that be in place of Núñez again or at the expense of Luis Díaz. Albeit not for the entirety of the match in Italy, the changes did work.
This was the first time since the second match of the season that Liverpool lined up with what most people would say is Klopp's first-choice back five (Alisson Becker and the back four in front of him). In midfield, meanwhile, Dominik Szoboszlai was relatively quiet, but Curtis Jones showed plenty of promise — and along with Alexis Mac Allister, that is the most balanced trio that Liverpool can field.
Ahead of Fulham, as Klopp contemplates changes to his Liverpool starting XI, the big decisions should have been made for him. Going again with the same back five is obvious, though there might be an argument for bringing Harvey Elliott in for Szoboszlai in the center.
In the attack, Gakpo should start and Salah needs to go again even if he doesn't look in prime condition at the moment. Either Núñez or Díaz can complete the side without much arguing — it tells you all you need to know that neither is jumping out as an obvious solution to the goalscoring troubles — and Diogo Jota doesn't look ready to start just yet.
At this time in the campaign, Liverpool has to just go strong every game and the time for rotating has gone. That might mean very little football for Ryan Gravenberch until after the summer and Wataru Endō might find minutes harder to come by as well, but the Reds need maximum points from here.
Going with the same starting team at the weekend as was used on Thursday makes a great deal of sense, with Núñez doing little to suggest that his inclusion or exclusion could be decisive. Likewise, the toss-up between Szoboszlai or Elliott could have an equal outcome either way. The obvious thing would be to go with the same team again — and if there are changes, there shouldn't be many.