Bournemouth away Saturday 24th January at 530pm

[SB]

Not sure we’ll see too many rotations for this. Possibilities are Mo, Konate & Jones as the most likely candidates. Thoughts?

[Doc_Piptorious]

Gomez to stay in, Jones instead of MacAllister (think Jones was a yellow away from a suspension in the CL?) and would put Salah on the bench.

Or start both Jones and MacAllister in the middle with Gravenberch and have Szobo going to the right side.

Everyone else the same from last night.


Then bring the likes of Robertson, Salah, Konate (if he feels ready), Gakpo, Chiesa and maybe Mama in for starts in the CL game next Wednesday.

[Yozza]

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Slot expects a similar squad to be available to that which travelled midweek, but they will have to "wait and see" on the fitness of Federico Chiesa.
  
• He added conversations between him and Ibrahima Konate, whose father died this week, will stay private but it is "very obvious that the player needs time to be there for his family and also time for himself".
  
• On whether a Premier League return against a team he has a goodscoring record against will be good for Mohamed Salah: "Mo has scored a lot of goals against any team in the Premier League. Mo played 90 minutes and [on Thursday] we had a recovery session, we trained today and knowing Mo he is ready to play tomorrow. But he, like all the others, have a training session to go and then I will decide on the line-up."
  
• The Reds boss said it is "hard to predict the future" with potential for player injuries, but they are a "very competitive team against any team in the world" and he has the confidence they can secure a top-four spot in the Premier League.
  
• After another clean sheet this week, Slot feels their defensive improvements are "clear for everyone to see" and added: "Alisson had a great save. Two in the first half and another in the second half [against Marseille]. We know we have one of the best goalkeepers in the world."
  
• On former Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez: "He is getting stronger and stronger in my opinion. It was a moment to give him that game during the week as well and he did really well in Marseille. If you look at each of our signings, they won't only be better this second half of the season but they'll be better next season and better the season afterwards. That is the way this club is run."
  
• Asked whether he expects many more incomings or outgoings before the end of the window, Slot responded: "At this moment in time, I expect it to stay mainly the same."

[Doc_Piptorious]

[Doc_Piptorious]

I'm not loving the attack. Think Wirtz is going to be doing an awful lot of the work.

[Buzzo]

Gakpo ahead of Ekitike is a bold move unless there is an injury.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Gakpo ahead of Ekitike is a bold move unless there is an injury.

Any chance you can start working in a few reets, ochs, ayes, bonnies, braws, heeds and kens into your posts?

Missing aul Spuddles about the place, so the rest of you Scots need to up your game in sounding a bit more Rab C. Nesbitt-y so I feel like Spud Gun is still active.

[kingfunk]

I’ll say it now and hope Arne proves me horribly wrong but Gakpo in for Ekitike is the wrong call. Hugo can make thinks happen with one touch where as Gakpo really slows our attack imo.

[Mark79]

Ekitike is just back from missing a couple of games with a thigh injury.

A third start in 7 days would likely have been too risky.

We have to rotate. Ekitike can't start every game.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Buzzkill79

[Buzzo]

Any chance you can start working in a few reets, ochs, ayes, bonnies, braws, heeds and kens into your posts?

Missing aul Spuddles about the place, so the rest of you Scots need to up your game in sounding a bit more Rab C. Nesbitt-y so I feel like Spud Gun is still active.

I’ll do ma best ya cunt.

[Mark79]

Buzzkill79

I much prefer Pipkill79

[Doc_Piptorious]

I’ll do ma best ya cunt.

Not bad, bit friendlier than how Spuddles would be but not bad at all.

[Doc_Piptorious]

I much prefer Pipkill79

I'm sure you do, but your chances of that are about as low as your chances of being as univerally loved as Mark3.

[Mark79]

I'm sure you do, but your chances of that are about as low as your chances of being as univerally loved as Mark3.

Put downs are your love language. You big flirt.