Alisson Becker was injured for two months and missed several key matches for Liverpool.
Liverpool were dealt another setback ahead of their Champions League meeting with PSV Eindhoven as Alisson Becker was ruled out through illness.
The Brazilian had only just returned at the weekend following nearly two months on the sidelines with a muscle problem.
His comeback in the 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest had been viewed as a major boost for Arne Slot.
However, he was removed from the squad again on Tuesday night, forcing another reshuffle at a time when Liverpool can ill afford further disruption.
Giorgi Mamardashvili stepped in to take Alisson’s place between the posts.
The Georgian goalkeeper now faces a key opportunity to impress, with Slot expected to give a fuller update on Alisson’s condition during his press conference ahead of Sunday’s match against West Ham United.
Isak Dropped as Ekitike Leads the Line
Liverpool also made a notable change in attack, with Alexander Isak dropping to the bench following a difficult showing against Forest.
Isak touched the ball just 15 times in nearly 70 minutes during that match, prompting Slot to make a bold decision for Europe.
Hugo Ekitike was preferred as the starting striker, a move that underlines Slot’s willingness to rotate even his biggest names.
Despite his £125 million price tag, Isak has been unable to recapture consistent form in recent weeks.
The coaching staff are hopeful that a spell out of the firing line will help the forward reset ahead of a demanding run of fixtures.
Cody Gakpo started on the left flank to face his former club.
Mohamed Salah continued on the right, providing experience and firepower in what was expected to be a decisive group-stage meeting.
Defensive Adjustments and Midfield Tweaks
Curtis Jones continued his unexpected spell at right-back, a role he has filled in several matches under Slot.
Jones lined up alongside Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, and Milos Kerkez, who retained his place at left-back.
Andy Robertson was available, but Kerkez was again chosen as Slot continues to rotate his full-back options.
The midfield was also reshaped, with Dominik Szoboszlai pushed into a more advanced role.
Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister completed the trio in the centre of the pitch.
Slot has experimented heavily with his midfield combinations throughout the season, searching for greater balance during a period of inconsistency.
Liverpool’s Recent Struggles Add Pressure to the Fixture
Liverpool entered the match needing a strong performance to halt a worrying run of results.
The club have lost eight of their last eleven matches in all competitions.
Their Champions League form has been significantly better, with three wins from four prior group-stage fixtures offering a path toward qualification.
Heading into the evening, the Reds sat tenth in the domestic league table.
A victory over PSV would move them into the top eight of the continental standings, a position considered crucial for progression.
The pressure on Slot has grown in recent weeks as the team’s Premier League results have dipped.
Injuries and inconsistent performances have forced frequent changes to the starting XI.
The absence of Alisson and the demotion of Isak added further intrigue to the latest selection.
Full Team Line-Ups
Liverpool named the following starting XI:
Mamardashvili; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike.
Substitutes included Woodman, Miscuir, Gomez, Endo, Isak, Gomez, Chiesa, Robertson, Nyoni, and Ngumoha.
PSV Eindhoven fielded:
Kovar, Dest, Schouten, Yarek, Salah-Eddine, Mauro Jr, Saibari, Veerman, Man, Til, Perisic.
Their bench featured Olij, Smolenaars, Obispo, Flamingo, Sildillia, Nagalo, Wanner, Fernandez, Pepi, Driouech, Bajraktarevic, and Boadu.
