Liverpool will look to Naby Keita and Curtis Jones for creativity vs Cardiff City today. The pair could be sublime – and they might have to be.
Jurgen Klopp named a strong Liverpool lineup to face Cardiff City today, moving away from his usual choices in the FA Cup. In fact, the boss hasn’t named a single youth player in his first-XI – this is a senior side looking to win comfortably.
Liverpool XI vs Cardiff: Keller, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Henderson, Keita, Jones, Minamino, Firmino, Jota
One area stands out for us – midfield. Klopp starts both Naby Keita and Curtis Jones for only the second time this season but the first time in these roles. Their only other game together – Norwich City in the EFL Cup – saw Jones start as a holding midfielder before Keita went off early.
This time, however, they’re both playing in their more advanced, progressive roles. On paper, they’ll be far too much for Cardiff, with the two of them looking magnificent at times this season. They’re each capable of driving Liverpool forward on the ball, getting in and around the box and making things happen.
Keita, for instance, was sensational at Old Trafford earlier this season – Manchester United couldn’t handle him. Jones played his own starring role against FC Porto in the Champions League, playing a part in four goals.
There’s a tonne of creativity here and Liverpool can use Keita and Jones to continuously pile pressure on the visitors. The two of them could overwhelm Cardiff today – and they might have to.
Liverpool vs Cardiff City
Liverpool’s bench shows the strength in depth right now as both Harvey Elliott and Thiago return to the first-team fold. The pressure is firmly on Keita and Jones, then, as their rivals for those progressive midfield roles wait in the wings.
Both of them need to put in top displays today as a result. If they struggle – or even look middling against Championship opposition – they could quickly find themselves in a difficult fight for a first-team role.
That’s the reality at Liverpool when everyone is back fit. It’s a pressure-filled struggle for players but the squad has never looked stronger.
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