The Carabao Cup was the ultimate trophy lifted aloft by Jurgen Klopp and it may properly be the primary claimed by new Liverpool boss Arne Slot.
Liverpool start the defence of their title on Wednesday night within the third spherical of the competitors, internet hosting West Ham United – a aspect they beat 5-1 on their journey to glory final time period. On paper, the Reds ought to e book their spot within the subsequent spherical, however a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest nearly two weeks in the past proves that they cannot afford any complacency midweek.
Rotation may additionally make life harder for Liverpool, with Slot needing to supply a few of his key starters a deserved relaxation given the hectic upcoming schedule. The likes of Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and the in-form Luis Diaz may all be given the night time off.
Right here is how Liverpool may line up on Wednesday.
GK: Caoimhin Kelleher – With Alisson lacking the win over Bournemouth and a confirmed absentee midweek, Kelleher will probably be tasked with guarding the Anfield nets. Determined to be a primary elsewhere, he is solely more likely to be Liverpool’s cup goalkeeper this time period.
RB: Conor Bradley – With Alexander-Arnold’s Liverpool future unsure, the Reds may very well be counting on Bradley weekly in future years. The Northern Irishman’s spectacular begin to his Anfield profession is more likely to proceed beneath Slot.
CB: Jarell Quansah – After being hooked at half-time in Liverpool’s Premier League opener, Quansah hasn’t been seen since. That can in all probability change on Wednesday although, with the teen possible up in opposition to the highly effective Michail Antonio.
CB: Virgil van Dijk – In a much-changed backline, the skipper may retain his place. Whereas Joe Gomez is a candidate to interchange the Dutch defender, Liverpool do want a stage of continuity of their beginning lineup – particularly within the defence.
LB: Kostas Tsimikas – The left-back produced a really Tsimikas-esque efficiency in his latest begin in opposition to Milan within the Champions League. Encouraging going ahead however reckless defensively, you are by no means overly certain what you are going to get from the Greek worldwide.
DM: Wataru Endo – Slot is evidently not a member of the Endo fan membership however he is nonetheless more likely to utilise the midfielder this season sparingly. The Japan captain’s future will hinge on his performances within the cup competitions.
DM: Curtis Jones – Having suffered with harm points at the beginning of the season, Jones ought to make his first begin of the season on Wednesday. He scored twice in opposition to West Ham in final 12 months’s Carabao Cup conflict.
RM: Federico Chiesa – Slot has hinted at a primary begin for summer time signing Chiesa in opposition to the Irons, even when the Italian could solely final an hour or so. Liverpool followers will probably be excited to get a correct view of the Euro 2020 winner, who’s more likely to substitute Salah on the proper flank.
AM: Dominik Szoboszlai – Szoboszlai has made a cracking begin to 2024/25 – as was the case in 2023/24 as properly – and has thrived in a extra superior midfield position beneath Slot. Additionally scoring within the 5-1 win over West Ham final time period, he could retain his beginning spot midweek.
LM: Cody Gakpo – The Dutch ahead was one in every of Liverpool’s standout performers in his first begin beneath Slot in opposition to Milan. He is evidently picked up from the place he left off on the finish of final season and at Euro 2024.
ST: Diogo Jota – Jota was a shock omission in opposition to Bournemouth, not that includes in any respect within the 3-0 victory. Darwin Nunez changed him and scored a magnificence, maybe relegating the Portuguese to the quantity two spot in the intervening time.
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