The Reds were set for a Merseyside derby showdown with Everton at the weekend, but Storm Darragh’s 90mph winds put those plans on hold. While Liverpool now face the prospect of a rescheduled fixture, the delay might have been a blessing in disguise.
It gave Arne Slot's squad a breather as they remain comfortably atop the Premier League standings, holding a commanding lead over Arsenal and Chelsea.
Their last outing,a thrilling 3-3 draw at Newcastle ended a seven-game winning streak but kept Slot’s away record intact. Liverpool have been prolific in front of goal, scoring at least twice in their last nine matches across all competitions. That run includes a solid 2-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League, maintaining their flawless record in the revamped tournament.
Sitting two points clear at the top of the 36-team standings, Liverpool are already guaranteed a playoff spot. Their recent trips to Spain have also been positive, with victories in their last two games against Spanish opposition, breaking a long drought of away wins in the country.
However, Girona presents a less intimidating challenge compared to some of the Spanish heavyweights the Reds have faced in the past.
Girona, who surprised many with a third-place La Liga finish last season, have struggled to replicate that success. The summer departures of key players like Artem Dovbyk and Aleix Garcia have left Michel’s squad looking inconsistent. They sit eighth in La Liga with 22 points from 16 games and are languishing in 30th place in the Champions League standings, facing the threat of early elimination.
Their first-ever Champions League campaign has been a harsh learning curve, with losses to PSG, PSV, Feyenoord, and Sturm Graz. Adding to their woes, Girona were thumped 3-0 by Real Madrid on Saturday and recently crashed out of the Copa del Rey to lower-tier UD Logroñés.
Still, Girona had been solid at home before Real Madrid’s visit, winning three on the trot. The clash with Liverpool marks their first competitive meeting with the Reds, and any English team offering a chance for a historic upset, though the odds are firmly stacked against them.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Liverpool would have been without Alexis Mac Allister for the Merseyside derby due to suspension, but the Argentine midfielder is also sidelined for this Champions League clash after accumulating too many yellow cards in the competition. His domestic ban will carry over to the Fulham match next Saturday.Mac Allister is just one of seven Liverpool players unavailable for the game against Girona. Tyler Morton (knock), Federico Chiesa (illness), Diogo Jota (abdominal), Kostas Tsimikas (ankle), Ibrahima Konate (knee), and Conor Bradley (hamstring) are all out. However, there’s good news for the Reds as Alisson Becker (hamstring) has traveled with the squad and could make his first start in two months.
With Mac Allister out, Curtis Jones is expected to team up with Ryan Gravenberch in a deeper midfield role. Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah will look to add another assist to his name, he already has four in this Champions League campaign, a personal best.
Girona welcomes right-back Arnau Martinez back into the fold after serving his suspension in the recent defeat to Sturm Graz. However, their preparations were disrupted by a late injury to striker Bojan Miovski, who sprained his ankle during their final training session. As a result, veteran forward Cristhian Stuani, 38, is likely to lead the line in their 4-2-3-1 setup.
The hosts will also be without key winger Viktor Tsygankov (adductor injury) and a former Manchester City midfielder (calf issue). On the bright side, young midfielder Jhon Solis has recovered from a sprain and is ready to play.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Girona possible starting lineup:Gazzaniga; A Martinez, Lopez, Krejci, Gutierrez; Martin, Romeu; Asprilla, Van de Beek, Danjuma; Stuani
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Gakpo
EXPERT PREDICTION
Girona 1-3 Liverpool
There’s no question Liverpool will have the fresher legs on Tuesday, thanks to their weekend break, and they should have no trouble taking care of Girona.
The hosts are feeling the impact of missing key attacker Viktor Tsygankov and haven’t been able to keep up with Europe’s top teams this season—a trend that’s unlikely to change against the Champions League leaders.
