Liverpool have ended a 417-match unbroken run of naming a homegrown player in their starting XI for a European fixture. The Reds face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, and Arne Slot has not named a single English player in his team. There are four homegrown players on the bench, however.
Slot makes huge call
Liverpool face Atleti in the Champions League on Wednesday, and Slot has made a remarkable decision, as he has opted against including a single English player in his starting XI. There are four English players on the bench: Freddie Woodman, Joe Gomez, Rio Ngumoha, and Jayden Danns. But they are absent from the first-team.
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Perhaps the headline news is the inclusion of Alexander Isak in the XI, as he makes his debut after his £125 million ($171m) move from Newcastle. Britain is represented in the XI, as Scotland international Andrew Robertson starts at left-back. Four Dutch players start: Jeremie Frimpong, Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, and Cody Gakpo.
Slot looking for European success
Slot's side fell short in the Champions League last season, losing to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties in the Round of 16. Given how successful their domestic season was, the Dutchman will be desperate to put that right.
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After facing Atletico, Liverpool will then play Galatasaray, Eintracht Frankfurt, Real Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, Inter Milan, Marseille, and Qarabag.