Liverpool maintained their position as early title contenders with a hard-earned point at Brighton on Sunday afternoon.
A Mohamed Salah brace towards half-time was ultimately enough for the Reds to snaffle a 2-2 draw and extend their run of form to just one defeat in 22 games.
Liverpool will resume after the international break with the 243rd Merseyside derby when they entertain neighbours Everton on Saturday week.
And here we look ahead to the changes Jurgen Klopp could make when his team are next in action.
Konate question
For the second time already this season, Klopp waved farewell to his players after the final whistle while keeping his fingers and more besides crossed that they all come back healthy from the international break.
One player who won’t be involved is Caoimhin Kelleher, who has had 12 stitches in his knee after a training ground collision. Adrian, as at Brighton, will be expected to act as deputy to first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Centre-back continues to intrigue, with Ibrahima Konate having replaced Joel Matip for the closing stages at Brighton. Matip has started the last six Premier League matches and, having long retired from international duty, will be more fresh to line up alongside skipper Virgil van Dijk. Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah are other alternatives.
Andy Robertson remains ahead of Kostas Tsimikas at left-back, and while Trent Alexander-Arnold was also substituted on Sunday with Liverpool mindful of his minutes after a spell on the sidelines, he was impressive at right-back. Gomez is his competition with Conor Bradley still out.
Midfield poser
Alexis Mac Allister was the only one of Liverpool’s outfield South American contingent to start in the first match after the last international break at Wolves, and appeared tired when performing sufficiently poorly to be hooked at half-time.
And Klopp has a major decision to make not only over whether to start the Argentine, but also if he should continue in the number six role. With Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajectic injured and Curtis Jones serving the second of a three-match suspension, Wataru Endo – who hasn’t started a Premier League game since August – is the only senior alternative in the defensive midfield role.
Dominik Szobsoszlai began on the left of the midfield three at Brighton but improved when switching to his regular slot on the right side in the second half. Harvey Elliott had made his first Premier League start since April at the weekend but was replaced at the break by Ryan Gravenberch, who impressed on the left.
The return from suspension of Diogo Jota has given Klopp some welcome wriggle room in attack, particularly with both Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez likely to arrive back at the AXA Training Centre barely 24 hours before the derby.
Jota can slot in either on the left or down the middle, with Elliott also a possibility on the left if Liverpool continue with their regular 4-3-3 approach. A 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 formation could open up more possibilities for Klopp without the need for starting three out-and-out forwards.
Cody Gakpo is expected to still be out with a knee problem, with teenager right-winger Ben Doak having been in the Premier League matchday squad last weekend for the first time in a month.
