Six Liverpool youngsters could be in Arne Slot’s first-team squad to face Southampton as hint dropped

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Liverpool face Southampton this week in the quarter-final of the League Cup, a fixture that has come an awkward time for the Reds.

The Anfield side have drawn their last two games with Liverpool having to rely on late Diogo Jota goal to rescue a point against Fulham on Saturday, with Arne Slot heading to St. Mary’s tomorrow without Andy Robertson, who was sent off on the weekend.

With Southampton also sacking Russell Martin after their dismal 5-0 loss against Tottenham on Sunday, Liverpool face a managerless Saints team who could have a surprise in store for the Premier League leaders if they decide to overlook the south coast side.

And Liverpool might have dropped a hint today that Slot will take a youthful squad with him to Southampton on Wednesday.

Six Liverpool U-21 regulars not named in Monday’s clash vs Crystal Palace

Liverpool’s U-21s took on Crystal Palace this afternoon, with six notable players missing from the matchday squad in Jayden Danns, James McConnell, James Norris, Amara Nallo, Trey Nyoni and Tyler Morton.

With Southampton rock bottom of the Premier League and Liverpool heading to St. Mary’s in need of a good result having drawn their last two games, Slot picking a youthful squad would be a bold tactic from the Dutch coach.

Indeed, Slot has been hesitant to play too many Liverpool academy players despite injury problems and having an abundance of talent to let loose, with Nyoni winning praise this season from academy coach Marc Bridge-Wilkinson.

Yet with a big Premier League game coming up on Sunday against Tottenham, giving some youngsters a few minutes and to give a few senior players the night off might be a smart idea from Slot, who knows he needs to start looking to Liverpool’s academy for some answers to his first-team problems.

Which Liverpool academy players could get minutes vs Southampton?

Of the six players absent from today’s U-21 tie, only Morton and Nyoni have managed first-team minutes this season, with Norris, McConnell and Nallo involved in matchday squads for Liverpool under Slot.

And against a side as down on their luck as Southampton, even away from home, there’s a real chance that Slot could take a gamble and give a number of youngsters some crucial minutes in Wednesday’s League Cup quarter-final.

Jurgen Klopp last season turned to the academy when first-team numbers were down, and Slot could do the same this week against Southampton, especially with the schedule as hectic as it is for Liverpool.