Diaz or Gakpo question, defender steps OUT - Liverpool Predicted lineup vs Bologna

Liverpool welcome Bologna to Anfield on Wednesday night in the second game of a young Champions League season.

The Serie A side currently sit 13th in the league, going through a transition period having lost their manager, Thiago Motta, defender Riccardo Calafiori and striker Joshua Zirkzee over the summer. They will also be without their captain, Lewis Ferguson, who is dealing with a cruciate injury.

Arne Slot offered a bit of rotation in the first game against Milan. Here is the predicted XI for our next Italian matchup.

Goalkeeper - Alisson

Alisson missed the previous two games before this weekend’s trip to Wolves with a muscle injury. Backup Caoimhin Kelleher filled in for him admirably, putting out some of the best performances we’ve seen from him in a Liverpool shirt.

Alisson returned to his starting spot and, whilst Kelleher is a clear option if Arne Slot doesn’t want to put too much pressure on the Brazilian right now, we’re still of the mind that it’s Alisson until we hear otherwise.

Right-Back - Trent Alexander-Arnold

Trent continued his fine form against Wolves, putting in a trademark pinpoint cross - albeit with his left foot - that led to Diogo Jota being fouled for the penalty that put Liverpool 2-1 up. Conor Bradley filled in nicely in the League Cup game before that, giving the Scouser a weel-deserved rest.

With his contract status up in the air, and both Real Madrid and Bayern Munich circling, don’t expect him to miss many games.

Centre-Back - Ibrahima Konaté

What a weekend it was for Ibrahima Konaté. His first Premier League goal in two years, a grave error that led to Wolves’ equaliser, and a viral interview of him claiming he should have been Man of the Match over Ryan Gravenberch on Sky Sports. It really is the dream.

The Frenchman has been one of the crucial parts of the team this year, leading the Premier League in aerial duels by a wide margin. After scoring against Milan last time out he shouldn’t be losing his place here.

Centre-Back - Virgil van Dijk

It’s an indication of who Virgil van Dijk is that Liverpool have conceded two Premier League goals - four in all competitions - and no one is really speaking about his performances. The captain has been exactly what he needs to be and it’s allowing players around him, Konaté the perfect example, to take the step up that the team needs.

Left-Back - Kostas Tsimikas

Andy Robertson left the Wolves game late with an apparent knock, Joe Gomez slotting in to replace him. Whilst it shouldn’t be a cause for concern, according to manager Arne Slot, he has shown a willingness to rotate Kostas Tsimikas in more regularly than others.

Tsimikas was at fault for Milan’s opener last time out but Slot appears to be a believer in confidence through game time.

Defensive Midfield - Ryan Gravenberch

Speaking of confidence through game time, the Ryan Gravenberch train is on the tracks and departing the station at alarming speed. After a fine first year at the club, Gravenberch is performing at a very, very high level at the moment. His ability to resist a press, break through lines with both passes and dribbling is allowing Liverpool to play exactly how they want.

Centre Midfield - Alexis Mac Allister

Alexis Mac Allister has also returned to the form that we expected from him, operating in the centre-left side of the midfield and being an essential part of the counter-press that Liverpool are implementing at the minute. Slot has played Mac Allister as much as he feasibly can and we don’t expect that to change.

Attacking Midfield - Dominik Szoboszlai

Rumours of Liverpool scouting other advanced midfielders - such as the Germans Florian Wirtz and Merlin Rohl - is bringing Dominik Szoboszlai’s role into question. The Hungarian hasn’t performed badly at all this season but his absence from the thick of the action has meant that doubts have started to creep in. He should rightfully have had a goal against Wolves this weekend were it not for an outstanding save by Sam Johnstone, and as such we expect Slot to stick with him to try and get his level back to his best.

Left-Wing - Cody Gakpo

"And then it was Cody Time" said Arne Slot of Gakpo’s two late goals in the 5-1 demolition of West Ham last week. With Gakpo starting the first Champions League game against Milan as well, we’re anticipating Wednesday will be Cody Time once again.

Luis Diaz has scored five goals in seven appearances from this position in all competitions so far this season, and as a result it is expected that Slot won’t think dropping him for this tie will knock his confidence at all.

Striker - Diogo Jota

Jota’s two goals from a deeper position against West Ham whilst Darwin Nuñez occupied the centre forward role will only go to further cement his place in the starting XI. His movement forced the penalty that put Liverpool 2-1 up against Wolves at the weekend and his workrate is never relenting. With Darwin missing out at the weekend through illness, Jota makes sense here.

Right-Wing - Mo Salah

With rumours of his contract situation ever-intensifying - and Saudi Arabia eyeing an ambitious deal - Mo Salah grabbed his ninth goal involvement in eight appearances so far this season. The Egyptian is as unstoppable as ever on the right hand side. Federico Chiesa could see some game time depending on how it is looking, with the Italian gaining an assist on his full debut against West Ham in the League Cup last week.