Liverpool are set to be without a number of key players as they take on Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final.
Despite their injury issues, the Reds rose to beat Luton Town 4-1 in midweek. Tomorrow is set to be a whole different kettle of fish, though. Here’s the XI we expect Jurgen Klopp to put out in search of the first trophy of the season.
Defence
Even if Alisson Becker hadn’t been injured, Caoimhin Kelleher would have started this one. Set for a fifth consecutive game for the first time in his career, Kelleher has rhythm and will be desperate to bag himself a second winners medal in this competition.
Opportunity also knocks for Conor Bradley, who has been terrific over the last two months. One of Liverpool’s best players against Luton, the 20-year-old will go again at Wembley.
The first change is likely to come for the Reds at centre-back. Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk’s partnership has today been hailed by Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke. Having sat out of Wednesday’s game, £35m man Konate is set to come back in alongside the captain.
A second alteration will surely come from Klopp at left-back. Rested a little against Luton, Andy Robertson will likely return, with Joe Gomez dropping out. Gomez will be unfortunate not to play after a great season so far, but the 26-year-old is not a natural on the left of defence.
Midfield
While Klopp has the luxury of changing a couple of players in defence, he really does not have that option in midfield.
Realistically, the only thing the manager could do to switch things up is to start 19-year-old Bobby Clark. Although Clark has been impressive recently, we don’t think that will happen.
Instead it’s likely that Jurgen will have to put out the same midfield as he did last time out. That will mean Wataru Endo, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch will go again.
There has been hope that Dominik Szoboszlai could be back in time to feature to some degree. But having not been spotted in training yesterday that now looks unlikely.
Attack
Just like with his midfield, Klopp has very little rotational potential in attack, too.
There have been claims that Mohamed Salah will be passed fit, with Darwin Nunez also still in the running. Realistically though, neither will be ready to start.
As a result, Klopp simply has to play the same front three he went with against Luton. Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Harvey Elliott all scored against the Hatters. The same again would be brilliant.
If Salah and Nunez don’t make it, we’re just one more injury away from seeing Jayden Danns in the Liverpool front line at Wembley. Not the XI Jurgen would have hoped for for such a big game, but a decent one all the same.
Liverpool’s predicted Carabao Cup final XI: Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Elliott, Gakpo, Diaz
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