Arne Slot will make a number of changes against Southampton in the EFL Cup quarter-final on Wednesday night as he bids to keep his team fresh, Reds expert David Lynch has suggested.
Liverpool's 2-2 draw against Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday saw the players earn a significant amount of praise after they were forced to play with 10 men for the most of the match following Andy Robertson's first-half red card.
The Scotsman's suspension comes at an awkward time for Slot, who is already dealing with injuries in the backline to Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley, while Kostas Tsimikas has only recently returned to training.
Given the number of absentees, Lynch believes that Slot will field an unusual starting XI against Southampton on Wednesday, telling Sports Mole: "It's going to be really difficult to know what you're preparing for in terms of your defensive structure, how you press them. There's going to be a few surprises in [the team that Slot chooses], and it will be interesting to know, how [Liverpool] will approach this game.
"This one feels really inconvenient because of the injuries in defence, and he is going to have to throw some curveballs in in terms of his selection of the back four in this one."
Perhaps one benefit to Slot is that Sunday's Premier League opponents Tottenham Hotspur are set to play Manchester United on Thursday, which means that the Reds will have an extra day of rest compared to Spurs.
Who could make an appearance?
Unfortunately for Reds fans, Slot confirmed that Diogo Jota is unlikely to start on Wednesday as a result of an issue he sustained against Fulham, though he could make an appearance.
Other forwards like Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott are in line to be given minutes, while Lynch also suggested that a number of academy players could feature in order to give the likes of Virgil van Dijk a much-needed rest.
Lynch told Sports Mole: "I wouldn't be completely shocked to see James Norris at left back, the young lad from the academy. I know he's been in and around first team training recently, so clearly with one eye on this.
"Alexis Mac Allister is another one who's missed the last two games through suspension, and so to get him back in sharpness, I'd expect he would start. You look through it and it's some quality players that [they're] able to put on the pitch. They may be fringe players, but you're getting someone like Chiesa coming in as an option, [Darwin Nunez] will probably start.
"[Wataru Endo's] ready for some game time, and you drop these players in and it starts to look like a really solid team. There will be some academy representation there, no doubt. Norris probably starts, I think Amara Nallo will be in contention at centre half."
There have even been some suggestions that Endo could start in defence as a centre-back, and though that could be risky should Nallo also be chosen to play in the back four, Slot's options are quite limited at present.
© Imago
Should Slot prioritise the Premier League?
Considering the number of injuries in the squad - particularly in defence - some fans have argued that it would be better to be eliminated from the EFL Cup.
In isolation, Liverpool would be sensible to prioritise other competitions like the Premier League given they are two points ahead of second-placed Chelsea with a game in hand, and they would have to play a potentially gruelling two-legged semi-final tie should they progress past Southampton.
However, Lynch dismissed such notions, telling Sports Mole: "If you do have a fully fit squad - and the hope is that Liverpool will in the weeks to come - these games start to become really useful for keeping players in rhythm. Endo would not have seen much match action at all if Liverpool hadn't been progressing in the League Cup.
"The possibility of winning a trophy is absolutely massive as well. We've seen so many sides get that boost and it can kick you on in the league to go and win a Wembley final.
"[Liverpool would] still be able to put out a good side in those semis with rotation, and a side that's capable of getting you to Wembley. Then if you get there, you can name your strongest team and hopefully go and lift that trophy."
Should Liverpool advance past Southampton, they are guaranteed to face another Premier League team in the semi-final, with the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United still in the competition.
Lewis Nolan
