Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp drops team-news hint for Manchester City clash
The fourth round of the EFL Cup this season will see Liverpool lock horns with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the Etihad on 22nd December. The fixture will be the first competitive game for either side post the international break.
A number of Liverpool players are currently nursing injury situations, and will certainly not be a part of the lineup. Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota will only return later this season at some point in February or March, and hence, the attack will be slightly understaffed for the Reds for the time being.
With the squad available at Liverpool’s disposal presently, any starting line-up we could speculate will not have a recognised left winger. And in this moment, speaking after Liverpool’s win against AC Milan in the Mid-Season Friendlies, Jurgen Klopp dropped a hint on who could start the game against the current Premier League champions.
Of Liverpool’s representatives in the World Cup, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jordan Henderson and Virgil van Dijk were the latest to make their way back to the Reds’ training camp and the manager weighed in on their chances of playing against City this Thursday via Liverpool Echo:
“Yeah, there’s a chance, of course – they train already,”
“Hendo is already training here. Virg is training here but I don’t think we will try that. Hendo we will see, Trent we will see.”
Ruling out Virgil completely, one would naturally expect to see Joel Matip partner Joe Gomez in central defence with Nathaniel Phillips providing the backup for them. Moreover, Joey’s versatility could see him start as a right-back instead of Calvin Ramsay, but the last time Gomez turned up against Erling Haaland, he had him silent, hence he could retain his position as a centre-back.
Liverpool Team-News against Man City
Trent and Hendo even if they do not start the games, would be great options from the bench. But when you think about it, Trent has not been playing a lot of football of late but was in full-capacity training with the England squad. So there is a good chance for him to start as well.
Apart from that, Andy Robertson also is not an easy pick at left-back as Kostas Tsimikas gives him tough competition. The frontline will ideally have Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Darwin Nunez, but with Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho in the reckoning, things could stand mixed up to induce uncertainty in the opposition.
The midfield is something which is uncertain though. Youngsters like Ben Doak and Stefan Bajcetic have been in sublime form. Thiago and James Milner are the realistic starting options and the third slot in midfield could be up for grabs for a youngster, more so Bajcetic as he put in a world-class display against Milan.
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Hopefully, the youngster who is showing so much promise can deliver against a top-quality opposition like City. League routine begins on Boxing Day against Aston Villa, and hopefully we go only upwards.
