The match proceeded with rotations as I had anticipated. Mac Allister replaced Szoboszlai to play as a left defensive midfielder, Kerkez replaced Roberson as a left-back, Ekitiké replaced Isak as a striker, and Szoboszlai replaced Wirtz as an attacking midfielder. The only player who couldn't be rotated was Gravenberch, as there are currently no suitable substitutes for his defensive midfield position; Endo and Jones cannot fully replace his role. Additionally, Bradley replaced Frimpong as a right-back, indicating that Slot prioritized the defensive capabilities of the full-backs, mainly to mark Grealish from the opposing team.
Wirtz did not start, and the tactical core returned to Salah. The "Mac 8 He" midfield made its first appearance this season. The team's playing style is similar to last season but has also changed; Gravenberch, in addition to his defensive duties, has taken on more attacking responsibilities this season. In attack, he plays more like an 8, responsible for carrying the ball forward and making runs into the box. The first goal came after a midfield transition, where he passed the ball to Salah on the right flank. Gravenberch made a run into the right side of the box to receive Salah's pass and scored with a volley. The second goal followed a similar pattern, with Gravenberch passing to the right side of the box, where Ekitiké received the ball and scored. After taking a 2-0 lead, Liverpool began to slow down the pace and conserve energy, while Everton, centered around Grealish, launched several attacks. Bradley faced increasing defensive pressure; although Szoboszlai and Gravenberch took turns helping him defend, they still gave the opponent some chances, and Bradley received a yellow card. I initially thought Slot would substitute Bradley with a midfielder, moving Szoboszlai to right-back, but Slot stuck to the plan, substituting Jones for Mac Allister after over 60 minutes, Wirtz for Gakpo as a left winger, and Isak for Ekitiké as a striker. Considering the fitness issues, even though Liverpool conceded a goal to the opponent in the 58th minute, they did not attack with full force, focusing more on counterattacks while ensuring defensive stability. Unfortunately, Wirtz missed a great opportunity to score on a counterattack. In the end, the entire team defended vigorously to secure a 2-1 victory, achieving five consecutive league wins and leading the second place by five points.
Due to the schedule of three matches in seven days, the players' fitness was significantly affected. Fortunately, Everton did not play as aggressively as before, reducing the risk of player injuries. It is understandable to play conservatively while ensuring victory.
In the next League Cup match, a large-scale rotation is inevitable. My personal prediction for the starting lineup is:
Goalkeeper: Mamardashvili
Center-backs: Leoni, Endo
Left-back: Roberson
Right-back: Gomez
Defensive Midfielders: Jones, Nyoni
Attacking Midfielder: Chiesa
Left Winger: Ngumoha
Right Winger: Frimpong
Striker: Isak
The defensive midfielders, center-backs, and right-backs are harder to predict. Endo could play as a defensive midfielder or a center-back, and Bajcetic, Williams, and Danns are also likely to get playing time. van Dijk, Gravenberch, Salah, Szoboszlai, and Becker will definitely not play, while Mac Allister, Ekitiké, and Wirtz may come off the bench.