Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola could hand Jeremie Frimpong a recall for the visit of Manchester United after the right-back missed the last six games. The Reds ended a run of two successive defeats with a comfortable Premier League victory at Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Iraola and his players will look to build on that triumph when they resume after the international break against Michael Carrick's relegation-threatened side on Sunday week. Liverpool have won only one of the last seven meetings with United and none of the last three.
Defensive options improving
Frimpong is expected to be back available for selection, having been sidelined for six matches. Ronald Araujo has been featuring primarily in the right-back position, with Joe Gomez another option. Conor Bradley has been out since January with a serious knee injury.
Centre-back Giovanni Leoni, another long-term absentee, is slated to return to training during the international break, though he will need a further period before being considered for action. Jeremy Jacquet and skipper Virgil van Dijk have emerged as the main duo at the heart of defence, with Araujo and Gomez other alternatives.
Alisson Becker demonstrated at Palace why he is the undisputed number one in goal ahead of Giorgi Mamardashvili and Freddie Woodman. Milos Kerkez and Kostas Tsimikas continue to compete for the left-back role, with neither consistently convincing so far this season.
Midfield competition
The Liverpool midfield has become a point of intrigue for supporters, particularly regarding the two deeper positions. Alexis Mac Allister has cemented himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet, but alongside him there has been heavy rotation, sparked partly by injuries.
Ryan Gravenberch has missed the last two matches with a heel problem, while Dominik Szoboszlai was forced off in the second half at Palace after extending his knee. Teenager Trey Nyoni made his first Premier League start in the defeat to Arsenal earlier this month and has impressed in both the League Cup and Champions League, pushing both Gravenberch and Szoboszlai.
Florian Wirtz is the established number 10, although the need to rest the Germany international has seen Gravenberch, Szoboszlai and James McConnell fill the position on occasion. Defensive midfield option Wataru Endo is still to play a single minute this season.
Forward rotation
Iraola has made a point of changing his forward line in recent weeks, an approach unlikely to change with a run of nine games in 28 days approaching ahead of Christmas. Alexander Isak is the established number nine and now has eight goals for the season, with Cody Gakpo, Lewis Koumas and Bradley Barcola having also started there this campaign.
Gakpo, Barcola and Ngumoha have featured regularly on either flank, with Victor Munoz another option on the right. Koumas has also had a start on the flank. Federico Chiesa failed to make the bench at Palace, with Hugo Ekitike still out with an Achilles problem suffered in April. Jayden Danns has been among the substitutes in the Champions League.
