Liverpool kick off their 2023/24 Carabao Cup campaign on Wednesday night when Leicester City visit Anfield – and Jurgen Klopp has a group of players to choose from.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been ruled out of Liverpool’s Carabao Cup third-round tie against Leicester City despite making positive progress in his recovery from a hamstring injury.
The vice-captain felt the problem towards the end of the Reds’ final game before this month’s international break. That then ruled Alexander-Arnold out of England’s final games against Liverpool.
LASK and West Ham United after his return.
Assistant manager Pep Lijnders offered a positive update on the winger’s health, saying he was partially back in team training. However, Wednesday’s cup tie comes too soon, with the upcoming Premier League trip to Tottenham Hotspur a more likely target. Jurgen Klopp’s boss also mentioned Thiago Alcantara as supporters continue to wonder when they will see the Spaniard back in action. However, there is no timetable yet as he is still “recovering” from the problem that occurred in April.
Conor Bradley is also sidelined as he recovers from a long-term pre-season problem, otherwise there were no further injuries in Sunday’s win over West Ham.
The Carabao Cup offers both a chance to get to Wembley and get some silverware, as well as a chance to integrate younger players into the first team.
The Reds are the most successful club in the competition’s 63-year history, having won it nine times – the latest part of a 2021/22 cup double campaign. They beat Leicester this season thanks to a late comeback and a penalty shoot-out in front of the Kop in the quarter-finals.
As in last week’s Europa League group opener against LASK, changes are expected. Despite being relegated from the Premier League last season, the Foxes are no pushovers. Under new manager Enzo Maresca, they are at the top of the championship after seven wins from eight matches.
Here is the full Liverpool squad expected to be available for tonight’s game:
Goalkeepers: Alisson Becker, Caoimhin Kelleher, Adrian.
Defenders: Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, Andy Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas, Jarell Quansah.
Midfielders: Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones, Stefan Bajcetic, Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch.
Attackers: Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Ben Doak.
Ruled out: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Thiago Alcantara, Conor Bradley
