Slot will not rotate at Girona as Liverpool welcome Alisson back

Arne Slot feels no need to rotate for Liverpool’s trip to Girona following the postponement of the Merseyside Derby, though goalkeeper Alisson could return from injury.

Liverpool have had more rest than usual ahead of their Champions League clash with Girona, owing to Storm Darragh forcing the postponement of their scheduled trip to Goodison Park to face Everton on Saturday.

The Reds are the only team with a 100% record in Europe’s premier club competition this term, making it five wins from as many games by downing Real Madrid 2-0 on matchday five.

Slot’s winning run is already the longest by any coach upon taking over an English club in the competition, and the Dutchman will stick with his tried and trusted lineup.

“If we played Everton we might have played the same team but you never know what that intense fixture could lead to,” Slot said at a press conference on Monday.

“I think it was a good decision to cancel it and if you play a special game like that it needs to be played in good circumstances, it was a good decision.

“Now everyone is really ready so no reason to rotate from last match, so we will start with a very good team tomorrow.”

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Liverpool are already assured of at least a play-off place, and Slot’s aim is now to wrap up automatic qualification for the last 16 by guiding them to a top-eight finish.

“If you play starters every time then you also need the result because we try to finish high to skip the next round,” he said.

“If you skip the round and still have a difficult draw we’ll think about it differently but we have to wait and see.

“We want to stay in the top eight so we need a win and the first chance is tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, Alisson has been out with a hamstring injury since early October, but the Brazilian is now in contention to reclaim the number one spot from Caoimhin Kelleher.

“He is fit. I think it speaks for itself if you can play with Alisson, who has been so outstanding for this club for so many years and for Brazil, that it is definitely nice to have him back and available,” Slot said.

“But if you then look at how his replacement did, it is not going to be easy to do it even better, so we expect definitely the same and maybe on margins a bit better.

“But Caoimhin did so well so we can say we have two great goalkeepers who can do the job for us.”

Girona, in their first season in Europe, are 30th in the standings with three points from five games, three points adrift of the playoffs, while Liverpool have 15, two ahead of Inter.