Liverpool face West Ham United at Anfield in the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup and Jurgen Klopp’s side will be looking to get back to winning ways following defeat in the dead rubber away at Union Saint Gilloise last week before the bore draw against Manchester United on Sunday.
The Reds welcome current table toppers Arsenal to L4 on Saturday night and a confidence-boosting cup win before the pre-Christmas would be the ideal preparation, not to mention the possibility of sealing the first piece of available silverware for the new look side.
Whilst it’s unlikely Klopp will have Diogo Jota, Ryan Gravenberch or Alexis Mac Allister at his disposal, it seems certain that the Liverpool boss will name a strong XI in an attempt to advance to the last four beyond David Moyes’ in-form charges…
Liverpool v West Ham | EFL Cup | The Match Preview Show
Predicted Lineup
Despite the confirmed absentees and the likelihood of some rotation, with a shot at a Wembley showpiece on the horizon and a win likely to boost the mood heading into the weekend, this could be an opportunity to field a stronger side than many might anticipate.
XI: Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Quansah, Tsimikas; Endo, Elliott, Jones; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo.
Although the likes of Luke Chambers and Kaide Gordon could easily feature here, with the aforementioned increased importance and no extra time possible, Klopp could look to pack the starting XI with a view to resting later on in the contest if possible – the reverse of his approach to the meeting with Leicester City at this stage two seasons ago.
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Redmen Reacts
Despite the long-term absentees such as Andy Robertson, Thiago and Stefan Bajcetic still some way off returning, it’s imminently possible that the boss will ask some of his key players to go to the well on numerous occasions over the next fortnight.
Within touching distance of the Premier League summit and a cup final, there is little room for manoeuvre and as such, Klopp will rely heavily on his leading lights to guide the way.
Not to mention those who look short of their peak form, while some could use the rest and the sports science department will as ever have its say, regular action could be a way of sparking some life back into what has been underwhelming recent displays for many.
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