Cody Gakpo will start for Liverpool against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday afternoon.
Liverpool are in impressive form right now, and they are well-positioned to do well across multiple competitions. They are currently on top of the league table and they have made it to the knockout runs of the UEFA Europa League as well.
The Reds are still very much in the race to win the FA Cup and they will want to win the League Cup as well when they lock horns with Chelsea in Sunday’s final at Wembley. However, they have a number of injury problems, which could be a major issue.
Liverpool are without star keeper Alisson Becker. Caoimhin Kelleher will deputise in his absence. In the back four, Trent Alexander-Arnold misses out with an injury. Conor Bradley will start instead of him. Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk will form the central defensive unit, with Andrew Robertson as the left-back. Bradley and Robertson will look to help out in the attack and protect the defensive unit.
In the midfield, Wataru Endo will start as the defensive midfielder, with Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch alongside him. The two players will add creativity and control. Endo will provide defensive cover to the side. Dominik Szoboszlai, Thiago Alcantara and Curtis Jones will miss out.
Diogo Jota is ruled out in the attack. Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez are doubtful. So, Cody Gakpo is set to lead the line for Liverpool here with Harvey Elliott and Luis Diaz alongside him.
Speaking about the fitness situation of players ahead of the game, Lijnders said, “We come in a crazy schedule again, so we play every three days. It’s important for us to use each minute, use each day to really look how the players are. This is for Mo, Dom and Darwin. Two training sessions to go, let’s see how they are and then we can make a decision in the last minute.”
“All the others, we know it’s longer. Ali has a muscle injury. Trent, LCL. Jota, medial ligament, MCL. Curtis [has] a high ankle sprain. They will be longer out. Curtis is probably the first one [to come back] around the international break. All the others will be after the international break.”
Predicted Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Endo, Gravenberch; Elliott, Gakpo, Diaz
