Liverpool face a real test on their Premier League return from the international break as arch rivals Manchester United land at Anfeld on October 19.
The Reds headed into the latest FIFA window on the back of three successive losses in all competitions - a career-first for Arne Slot - after two league defeats and a slip up at Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League.
Slot will assess his returning stars ahead the incoming showdown with Ruben Amorim's visitors with several names already ruled out.
No.1 Alisson missed out on the Brazil camp, and remains sidelined with a thigh problem, and Ibrahima Konate is not expected to start after returning from France duty with a recurrence of a muscle strain.
Giorgi Mamardashvili will continue in for Alisson, with Joe Gomez on course to deputise for Konate, but the injury news is more positive for midfield pair Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo.
Endo opted against joining up with Japan due to a knock and Gravenberch was sent home early by the Netherlands - and both should make the squad to face United.
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Gravenberch has started six of Liverpool's seven Premier League games so far in 2025/26, alongside Alexis Mac Allister, with Domnik Szoboszlai the only one to start all seven in Slot's first XI.
Former Reds star hints Mac Allister will miss Man United clash
Despite admitting to exhaustion after two demanding games with Hungary, former Reds star Danny Murphy claimed he needs to start against the Red Devils, and made a bold call for Slot to drop Mac Allister.
"At the moment, I'd go with Szobozslai and Gravenberch in the middle vs. United," as per the Liverpool Echo.
"Two super athletic players who can cover lots of ground. And I'd put Wirtz ahead of them as a No.10.
"Szobozslai can go to the right and help the full-back defend when Mohamed Salah stays high because he's been given the license to not defend. I think the athleticism of those two is what Liverpool needs.
"It's not that I'm not a fan of Mac Allister, I think he's a wonderful player. Curtis Jones is terrific as well. But Mac Allister missing preseason has affected him. He's taking his time.
"You can see physically he's not at the same level as he was last season. That's my three at the moment. I'd let Wirtz play through it because I think the magic will come."
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Mac Allister grabbed two goals in Argentina's 6-0 friendly win over Puerto Rico on October 15 and a long flight back from Miami will impact Slot's thinking for United.
The 26-year-old is one of the last players back on Merseyside and his training time will be limited.
As Murphy indicates, a preseason groin injury has disrupted his flow, with the former Brighton & Hove Albion playmaker not completing 90 minutes in any of his six EPL starts.
However, the debate on Wirtz starting ahead of him is divisive, with the former Bayer Leverkusen star starting on the bench in two of Liverpool's last three league outings, as he awaits a first top-flight goal or assist under Slot.
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