Arne Slot looks set to snub ‘outstanding’ Liverpool player for Carabao Cup semi-final as frustration deepens

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Liverpool have a trophy on the line on Thursday as they aim to overturn their first-leg deficit in the Carabao Cup semi-final.

The Reds were beaten controversially at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in January, with Lucas Bergvall netting a late winner minutes after he should have been red carded.

Spurs head into the game having got a much-needed win over Brentford on Sunday, but saw their injury problems worsen after a knee issue ended centre-back Radu Dragusin’s season.

For Liverpool, they are in tip-top shape fitness wise. Arne Slot confirmed on Wednesday that Liverpool have no injuries other than the knock Trent Alexander-Arnold picked up at Bournemouth.

As a result, Slot is expected to put a strong team out at Anfield on Thursday, with Sunday’s FA Cup tie against Plymouth Argyle giving the Liverpool head coach the chance to rest key players instead.

With Slot going as strong as possible, first choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker looks set to get the nod in the Carabao Cup again. Having made it his competition during his Liverpool career, that is going to do nothing to help the frustration of Caoimhin Kelleher.

Caoimhin Kelleher should start against Tottenham

Slot was coy when asked which of his goalkeepers would be starting against Tottenham during his pre-match press conference on Wednesday.

“The two goalkeepers don’t know yet, so if I leave this room I’m going to go to the media next door and afterwards I’m going to inform the goalkeepers which decision I’ve made,” smiled the Dutchman.

It was a similar story ahead of the first-leg last month, in which Alisson surprisingly played. Remarkably, it was only the second appearance the Brazilian has ever made in the competition.

Liverpool have of course won the trophy twice during Alisson’s time at the club, illustrating the faith Jurgen Klopp had in Kelleher.

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However, with Sunday giving Slot the chance to make wholesale changes, we think it looks more likely that Alisson will play on Thursday to keep rhythm ahead of next week’s Merseyside Derby.

Once again, that will see relegated Kelleher to the bench in a competition which has become his trademark at Liverpool. As the Irishman continues to look for a way out of Anfield, this is not going to help his mood.

Which goalkeeper would play in the final?

Of course, you never want to get ahead of yourself in a semi-final, especially one in which Liverpool are behind in, but this does beg the question of who would play should Liverpool reach the Carabao Cup final.

Kelleher can trump Alisson comfortably based on experience alone, with the 26-year-old having started the final of Liverpool’s last two wins in the competition.

However, Slot is doing things a little differently. And while we’re not sure we would necessarily agree with the decision, we think it would be Alisson in the final.

Some will argue that you put your best team out in any given final and despite Kelleher’s brilliance, Alisson is still clearly the better keeper. But Kelleher has been ‘outstanding‘ when he’s had the chance this season. His patience and quality will lead many to think that he should be the one chosen – for both the semi and the final.

Perhaps Slot will revert back to Caoimhin and give him two games in a row this week, but we just can’t see it happening.