Starting XI: How should Liverpool line up against Leicester City?
@AdamMNVi
Carabao Cup action is back with Liverpool against Leicester City, a match where Jurgen Klopp will need to carefully assess each individual player’s fitness following a number of covid cases in camp.
It’s not clear whether the Reds manager cares too much about this cup – it seems to just get in the way amid busy periods and then asks that you play two legs in the semi-finals. That said, it’s a quarter-final, a chance for silverware, and an opportunity for players on the fringes to gain some sharpness.
Here’s how we should line up:
While we’re closer to the final, it would be harsh to change the side too much from the earlier rounds. Kelleher starts in goal behind a centre-back pairing of Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate as Nat Phillips is unavailable for this one through injury. Tsimikas and Williams come in for Trent and Robertson, the latter is serving a suspension.
Tyler Morton starts again as the number six behind Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Naby Keita showed some good signs on the weekend, but it’s a concern whether it’s too soon to play him in back-to-back games after recently returning from an injury.
It’s not great news further forward with Divock Origi also confirmed to be out in a game where he would definitely be starting, though Roberto Firmino could utilise this opportunity to start up front. Takumi Minamino completes the side with Sadio Mane.
Our team is good enough to win the game, but it’s a competition in which the Foxes will be taking more seriously than us. Klopp will need the Anfield crowd in good form to get us through this one, and I think Liverpool will find a way through to win.
Score prediction: Liverpool 2 – 1 Leicester City
