A look at how Liverpool might line up when they host Crystal Palace in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night
Arne Slot will ring the changes for Liverpool’s Carabao Cup tie with Crystal Palace(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
The return of the Carabao Cup to the calendar will inevitably see Arne Slot ring the changes for Liverpool’s meeting with Crystal Palace this week. The Eagles already have a couple of scalps on their record this season when it comes to Slot’s team.
But despite losing on penalties in the Community Shield in August before a 2-1 defeat in the Premier League at Selhurst Park last month, it’s unlikely the Reds boss will pick his big guns in some search for sort of revenge.
As ever, the pack will be shuffled and that could lead to some interesting subplots on the night for the fourth-round tie. Many of Liverpool‘s players are effectively playing for more minutes and starts in this competition.
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Freddie Woodman will make his Reds debut in goal. With Alisson Becker sidelined with that hamstring issue, Giorgi Mamardashvili has been first choice in recent weeks, so Woodman, who joined in a low-key free transfer in the summer, will be selected to deputise on the night.
At right-back, Jeremie Frimpong is currently sidelined with a hamstring issue, meaning Conor Bradley is the only recognised senior available at present.
Dominik Szoboszlai has covered there at times this season and while it might be reasonably be suggested Joe Gomez could fill in, the long-serving and versatile defender will be needed to play centre-back. Could Bradley be asked to play his third game in a week? That is a tricky balancing act to get right for Slot.
There is the option of Calvin Ramsay, whose last senior appearance came nearly three years ago, in a penalty-shootout win over Derby County in this competition under Jurgen Klopp. That might represent a left-field option but an injury to Bradley, whose fitness record is not perfect, would be hugely damaging right now, and Ramsay did score and impress in Sunday’s mini-derby demolition of Everton.
Gomez could be joined by Wataru Endo at the back given the head coach is unlikely to risk Ibrahima Konate or Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez and Andy Robertson are available for the left side.
In midfield, it could be a good opportunity to get some minutes for Alexis Mac Allister, who is still aiming to get up to 100% after a truncated summer. The Argentina World Cup winner was a second-half substitute in Frankfurt last week and then again in the 3-2 defeat to Brentford on Saturday.
Trey Nyoni is vying for another start, having begun the game against Southampton in the previous round and this competition is perfect for young players with potential who are in need of first-team exposure. A partnership with Mac Allister could be ideal to give Szoboszlai the night off, or at least a place on the bench, having played so much already this season.
This competition is made for Federico Chiesa and having laid on two assists for Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike in that victory over Southampton last month, the Italian will surely start once more on that right flank.
There is, however, a wild card in the form of Kieran Morrison, who was on the bench for Saturday’s game against Brentford. The Northern Irish winger was involved in all five of the goals on Wednesday afternoon when Rob Page’s youngster beat their Frankfurt counterparts in a thrilling 5-4 game in the UEFA Youth League. Could Morrison get a senior start on the back of good progress of late?
On the opposite side, Rio Ngumoha, like Nyoni, is likely to feature. Anfield officials have high hopes for the former Chelsea youngster and he has had a productive few months since the pre-season days, showing flashes of what he can do having only turned 17 at the end of August. This could be another night for the England Under-19 international to strut his stuff.
A lot depends on how bad Isak’s groin situation is with regards to who leads the line. With Jayden Danns sidelined with a hamstring issue, Slot might feel Sweden international Isak could use the minutes in the same way he did against Southampton, when he scored his only goal for the club to date.
If there is any concern, however, it might fall on Ekitike to once more carry the responsibility. Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah are also options if Slot does not want to take any risks with the France international but both players would admittedly be playing away from their natural positions.