Stefan Bajcetic will return to the Liverpool starting lineup against Leicester City in the EFL Cup third-round clash on Wednesday.
Liverpool will be overwhelming favourites heading into the contest against Leicester City after the way they have performed in recent weeks. They are currently unbeaten in the Premier League and will look to extend their fine run of form with a home win.
The Reds have done quite well against Leicester City in recent years, and the Foxes are winless in the last 13 away games against the Reds. Although Leicester City are in impressive form right now, they will be the underdogs heading into this contest.
Liverpool do not have any major injury issues ahead of this game. The home side will be without the services of Thiago Alcantara, who is still working his way back to full fitness after recovering from his groin injury. Trent Alexander-Arnold has recovered from his hamstring injury and he is back in training. However, the defender is unlikely to be risked here.
Pep Ljinders confirmed that in his pre-match press conference, saying, “Trent trained yesterday with us but it was just in the rondo and the ball possession with the counter-pressing, but he was outstanding. You see him instantly, of course. He is with the team training. I am not sure if he will be ready [for Leicester], we will see today.”
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On Thiago, he said, “He is in a good way, the healing process is going well so that’s the most important [thing] at this moment.”
Liverpool will line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Caoimhin Kelleher in goal. Joe Gomez and Kostas Tsimikas will start as the full-backs, and they will look to help out offensively. Joel Matip should start in the heart of the Liverpool defence alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Wataru Endo will start as the defensive midfielder here, and he will look to break up opposition attacks and win the ball back for his side. Ryan Gravenberch and Stefan Bajcetic are set to start as well. Bajcetic will help keep the midfield compact with his defensive contribution, while Gravenberch will look to add creativity and technical ability in the middle.
Cody Gakpo will likely lead the line for the Reds after missing out on a start against West Ham United. Harvey Elliott and Diogo Jota will start on the flanks here and they will act as inverted attacking midfielders. So, Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz will get some rest on Wednesday.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Gomez, Matip, van Dijk, Tsimikas; Bajcetic, Endo, Gravenberch; Elliott, Gakpo, Jota
