Three days after their Wembley victory, Liverpool is back at it in another push for domestic cup glory this season.
Liverpool will meet Southampton at Anfield on Wednesday night in the fifth round of the FA Cup. If the Reds win this game, they will only need two more rounds to reach another Wembley final.
It’s an enticing proposition, but the Saints will be no easy opponent.
The Championship side may have lost three of their past four games, but they have had a good season in England’s second tier and are more than capable of acting as a banana skin in Liverpool’s trophy campaign.
Aside from the strength of his opponents, Jurgen Klopp’s main challenge is simply picking an XI to line up at Anfield.
The Reds have significant availability concerns, with half of their squad still out injured and the other half having recently played 120 minutes against Chelsea.
Finding fresh legs and clear heads after that final is now Klopp’s challenge, as Liverpool must rapidly recalibrate with more planets to explore.
Here’s how Liverpool might line up against Southampton on Wednesday.
Following his heroics on Sunday, Caoimhin Kelleher is expected to take over in goal midweek, with Alisson out for the foreseeable future. The Irishman made a remarkable nine saves.
Joe Gomez, who ended up playing the majority of the final after being substituted in following Ryan Gravenberch‘s first-half injury, could be utilized at right back again, with Conor Bradley possibly needed farther forward.
Virgil van Dijk will almost certainly sit out this one, although Ibrahima Konate, who played 106 minutes on Sunday, may yet start. Jarell Quansah, who has played all 90 minutes in both FA Cup games this season, will also start.
Kostas Tsimikas, who assisted on the winning goal, should continue to play left back. The ‘Greek Scouser’ should be relatively fresh, having only appeared near the end of normal time.
Fresh bench options are limited. Rhys Williams might be included in the squad, as could 19-year-old full back Calum Scanlon, who made his first-team debut in Europe earlier this season, and possibly 17-year-old Amara Nallo, who joined West Ham this summer.
According to reports, 16-year-old Trey Nyoni, who was an unused substitute in Liverpool’s previous two games, is set to make his debut against Southampton. It’s unclear whether this is from the start or off the bench.
With Wataru Endo looking tired and bruised after 120 minutes on Sunday (Klopp described the Japan captain as having “the stiffest legs I’ve ever seen”), Alexis MacAllister might be the designated adult in the engine room, playing in the middle alongside two young options.
Bobby Clark and James McConnell, both 19 years old, impressed in cameo appearances in the Cup Final and should start here.
Along with Gravenberch, Jones, Thiago, and Stefan Bajcetic are still unavailable, while Harvey Elliott is also unlikely to be utilized after playing the entire game at Wembley.
However, there is a chance Dominik Szoboszlai will return. However, if he does, it will most likely be from the bench.
Conor Bradley began the final at right back but was quickly moved forward following the reshuffle caused by Gravenberch‘s injury. Given the lack of alternatives, he may be asked to start here after coming off for 72 minutes on Sunday.
Jayden Danns, who came close to scoring his first senior Reds goal with a header against Chelsea, will likely start in the middle, with Cody Gakpo available out wide.
Youngsters Kaide Gordon and Lewis Koumas are expected to join the team, with the latter having yet to make his debut.
While Diogo Jota is still unavailable, there is a possibility of reintroducing hoarding hurdler Darwin Nuñez or maybe Mohamed Salah?
Youngsters Kaide Gordon and Lewis Koumas are expected to join the team, with the latter having yet to make his debut.
Predicted Liverpool starting XI against Southampton
4-3-3: Kelleher; Gomez, Konate, Quansah, Tsimikas; McConnell, Mac Allister, Clark; Bradley, Danns, Gakpo.
Leave a Comment