Liverpool forward Diogo Jota should feature against Plymouth Argyle on Sunday after having struggled with injuries this campaign, Reds expert David Lynch has argued.
The Merseysiders are set to take on Plymouth away from home in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon, and boss Arne Slot is expected to heavily rotate his squad.
Diogo Jota came on from the substitutes' bench against Tottenham Hotspur last Thursday, bringing his total minutes played for the Reds this season to just 980, and the Portuguese international could be chosen to lead the line on Sunday.
Lynch believes that while Jota is arguably a starter when fit and may be important in the Premier League, a start in the FA Cup against Plymouth could be key in helping to build his fitness, telling Sports Mole: "[Jota] hasn't had the chance to be that important this season [due to injuries], but you would like him around.
"You always feel more confident of Liverpool winning games when he's even on the bench. In those tight moments, he's so good at sniffing a goal out, so Liverpool are going to take it slower [with his fitness].
"They'll be trying everything they can to try and keep Jota as fit as possible, and if he can get minutes in this FA Cup game, that's massive to try and keep him fit for a long period, because it hasn't happened this season."
Slot has also used Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz up front this season, and Jota has so far been unable to cement his spot in the XI despite impressing in his limited minutes so far.
What team could line up to take on Plymouth?
It seems that 17-year-old Trey Nyoni and 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha are likely to appear in some capacity given both were absent from the Under-21s' match against Southampton on Friday and the Under-18s' game against Manchester United on Saturday.
Others such as Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott have rarely started under Slot in 2024-25, but they have regularly featured in cup competitions.
Though Lynch does not think the Reds should take the Plymouth game lightly, he pointed to their match against PSV Eindhoven in late January as proof of the strength of Liverpool's squad when he told Sports Mole: "Plymouth are going to try and make it as tough as they can, and the atmosphere there is going to be brilliant. They did take a big scalp in Brentford [in the previous round], so you can't go into it taking it too lightly.
"I expect the likes of Endo, maybe James McConnell, to get a start as well - that's one of the reasons he's been kept around is to start this game.
"Liverpool are bringing in fringe players who are absolutely top class, so it's going to be a really strong side. Given how good Liverpool's second string is - it went toe to toe with PSV in their own backyard in the Champions League - to go away to Plymouth, who are rock bottom in the Championship, you'd have full confidence Liverpool will get through."
The Merseysiders were beaten 3-2 by PSV in the Champions League, but numerous stars like Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister played no part in the defeat, and yet the Reds almost earned a positive result away from home against the reigning Eredivisie champions.
© Imago
Could the FA Cup cost Liverpool in the Premier League or Champions League?
Trent Alexander-Arnold will miss Liverpool's clash against Plymouth as a result of a minor injury, but with the Reds ahead of second-placed Arsenal in the Premier League by six points, there are concerns that fielding too many first-team stars in the FA Cup could lead to fatigue and injuries.
Slot's side are also in the knockout stages of the Champions League, and there is a line of thinking that the team cannot afford to be competing on multiple fronts when winning one or both of the Premier League and Champions League looks like a strong possibility.
However, Lynch told Sports Mole that the FA Cup will at least prove to be important for keeping players who would otherwise not play sharp and ready to contribute, saying: "The new medical staff that's been put in place has done generally a very good job of managing muscle injuries this season.
"The hope will be that you can get [Jota] some minutes against Plymouth, and the same goes for so many others who do want to keep in and around [the first team]. Federico Chiesa is another that comes to mind. It's important to keep him fit and confident and amongst the goals if possible, so big opportunities for a few players, and important minutes coming up in that game."
Liverpool will feel they have a strong chance of winning the FA Cup considering Arsenal and Chelsea, who are second and fourth respectively in the Premier League, have both been eliminated, so there is a strong incentive to take the competition seriously.
Lewis Nolan
