What initially seemed like lingering disappointment from Liverpool’s loss to Nottingham Forest quickly turned into an impressive turnaround. Crickex Affiliate reporters were surprised to see former Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic open the scoring for AC Milan just three minutes into their Champions League opener at San Siro. But Liverpool’s response was emphatic, with goals from Konaté, Van Dijk, and Szoboszlai powering the Reds to a commanding and well-earned victory. That result set the stage for a strong showing in their upcoming Premier League clash against Bournemouth.

According to Crickex Affiliate analysis, Slot’s team is well positioned to claim three points this weekend, potentially propelling them to the top of the Premier League table. With Manchester City not playing until Sunday—when they host Arsenal in a high-stakes showdown—Liverpool has a golden opportunity to seize the lead, even if temporarily. This match also marked a milestone: for the first time since taking charge, Arne Slot made notable changes to his starting lineup. Kostas Tsimikas and Cody Gakpo came in for Andy Robertson and Luis Díaz, respectively.

While Gakpo shone as arguably Liverpool’s best performer of the night, Tsimikas had a mixed outing. He was partially at fault for Pulisic’s early goal but recovered well and played a key role in Van Dijk’s strike to help Liverpool take control. The rotation didn’t stop there. For players like Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez, the upcoming Carabao Cup tie against West Ham next Wednesday could offer the best chance yet to start this season. A similar scenario could unfold in midfield, where Gravenberch, Mac Allister, and Szoboszlai have recently locked down the starting trio with standout performances against Milan.

Slot’s squad selection strategy is becoming increasingly intriguing, with competition intensifying across all positions. Luis Díaz had been one of Liverpool’s top performers since Slot’s arrival, but his subdued display against Bournemouth could see him dropped from the starting eleven—a decision he’d have every right to feel frustrated about. On the opposite wing, Crickex Affiliate confirms that Mohamed Salah remains a guaranteed starter, but the question of who leads the line at center forward is still up for debate.

Diogo Jota featured in the first five matches of the season and scored in the EFL Cup clash against Ipswich, but he hasn’t found the net since. As Slot continues to experiment with rotation, Liverpool may discover that this flexible approach is exactly what they need to remain competitive on all fronts.