Here’s the confirmed Liverpool lineup vs Leicester in the Carabao Cup tonight at Anfield as the Reds hope to book their place in the semi-finals.
Liverpool host Leicester City At Anfield tonight and it’s hard to tell what kind of game we’re getting. The Reds will want to make the semi-fianls, of course, but can they afford to go all-out here?
Covid-19 keeps cropping up in the squad, with several first-XI players absent in recent games. While they may not have played here anyway, their replacements are now integral to the Reds’ form over the Christmas period. We’re not sure Liverpool can afford to risk senior players while hanging onto a title challenge.
Reports that Liverpool will play teenagers tonight weren’t exactly surprising, then. Handing them valuable experience and hoping for an upset might make the most sense. It’s certainly the ‘safe’ option, given the Carabao Cup is Liverpool’s fourth-priority trophy.
So with all that in mind, let’s see what Jurgen Klopp has gone for.
Confirmed Liverpool lineup vs Leicester City
Caoimhin Kelleher
Conor Bradley
Billy Koumetio
Joe Gomez
Kostas Tsimikas
Tyler Morton
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Jordan Henderson
Neco Williams
Takumi Minamino
Roberto Firmino
Klopp has limited the teenagers, then – though, plenty sit on the bench. But this is fairly healthy mix of senior stars and squad players, with a few youngsters thrown in, too.
One big shout is Jordan Henderson. The captain doesn’t have the world’s greatest fitness record but Klopp risks him here and presumably will do so in Liverpool’s next two games. It’s a risk but one that probably isn’t as high as it first looks.
All in all, we’re not sure there can be too many complaints here. There are plenty from certain fans, of course, but Klopp has put out a Liverpool them that could bring the best of both worlds. He’s not risking too many players, while making sure there are some winners in the side to give Liverpool a chance.
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