Since Arne Slot made the move to Liverpool FC last summer, the English top club has already beaten several top teams. Under the leadership of the Dutch coach, the team runs like a well-oiled machine, especially the Dutch players play a notable role in it.
Although regulars such as Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch did not travel with the team, our own Cody Gakpo is in the squad. For the striker, born and raised in Eindhoven, the return to 'his' club and city feels like a special moment: "I've never sat in the dressing room before, so that will take some getting used to."
Selection Liverpool FC
Despite the fact that Liverpool FC is already sure of a place in the eighth finals and Slot did not bring his usual names to Eindhoven, PSV is not playing against a bad team, anything but. On goal is perhaps the world's best second goalkeeper: Caoimhín Kelleher. The Irish goalkeeper kept three UEFA Champions League games this season due to an injury to Alisson Becker and got zero goals against in them. Opponents? Real Madrid, Bayer 04 and RB Leipzig.
Defense
Kostas Tsimikas and Conor Bradley have already shown to be excellent stand-ins. Tsimikas, who played at Willem II in the 2017-2018 season, is in his fifth season at Liverpool and is among the most experienced players in the selection. In the center, Arne Slot is likely to choose Jarell Quansah and Wataru Endo. Quansah, who blew out 22 candles this morning, has played 12 games this season, eight of them as a base player. Endo, used mostly as a substitute this season, played eighteen games.
Midfielder
Harvey Elliot, James McConnell and Tyler Morton are likely to fill the midfield spots. Harvey Elliot has the necessary experience despite being 21 years old; he can hardly be called a newcomer anymore with his 132 Liverpool games. McConnell and Morton are: Morton has so far only played games in the FA Cup and League Cup, McConnell even played only 50 minutes in the latter tournament for the first team.
Attack
Up front, Arne Slot has brought along several top players. In addition to Cody Gakpo, Darwin Núñez and Federico Chiesa are also in the attack. Chiesa, who transferred from Juventus last summer, has had little playing time this season. Núñez, now in his third season with Liverpool, played 125 games for the club, scoring 39 goals and 21 assists.