Arne Slot will have something different in mind for the starting XI on today’s EFL Cup match against West Ham in Anfield. The Reds lineup is expected to have some changes compared to the last matches in the Premier League and Champions League.
The winners of the last Carabao Cup will try to keep their great form alive with another win in the round 16. Last season Liverpool had a great run in the competition with their former manager Jurgen Klopp, where they won the final against Chelsea with a result of 1-0. Reds captain Virgil van Dijk scored the goal with a header from the corner in the 118th minute after a brilliant cross from Kostas Tsimikas.
Jurgen Klopp described this achievement as the best success in his 9 year run at Liverpool, and this felt special for him due to him leaving the club later in that season.
For today, there are some player who will miss the matches due to the injury. Alisson Becker, who had a problem with his hamstring will be on the sideline and his replacement will be Caoimhin Kelleher, who had a great performance by keeping a clean sheet in his last match against Bournemouth.
Even Harvey Elliott who got injured during international duty with England’s U-21 won’t be a part of the team against West Ham. Other players who didn’t appear during the last matches, will have the chance today to show themselves.
The new Liverpool summer signing Federico Chiesa, who played only two matches coming on from the bench, it’s expected to make his first start for the club replacing one of the main strikers on the team.
Curtis Jones who played only 30 minutes in the 3-0 win against Bournemouth, could be part of the starting XI and this game could decide if he will be a key factor in Liverpool’s success during the season.
Regular starters like Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alexis Mac Allister, and Luis Diaz are a possibility that they won’t be left out of the lineup but Arne Slot could go with other bench players like Conor Bradley or Jarell Quansah who has shown a great performance whenever they get the chance to start.
Having won 5 matches and lost only one, the Reds get ready for their next challenge to take on the Hammers. West Ham’s form since the start of the season is not the best one, placed 14th in the league table with 3 loses, one draw, and only one win against Crystal Palace with a result of 2-0.
This match is a very important one that will define Liverpool’s success under their new Dutch manager. In case of a triumph in Anfield tonight, the Reds next opponent will be Manchester City after winning 2-1 against Watford in Etihad.
