Joe Gomez and Harvey Elliott will return to the Liverpool starting lineup for the FA Cup fourth-round tie against Plymouth Argyle on Sunday.
Liverpool are coming into the FA Cup fourth-round tie against Plymouth Argyle on the back of an impressive and comprehensive win over Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-final of the EFL Cup, and they will be full of confidence and momentum.
Even though the Reds are likely to rotate the squad and rest some of their key players, they should have enough quality to find a way past the League One opposition. During his pre-match press conference, Arne Slot discussed the importance of these games, especially for fringe players.
The Liverpool manager said, “I think it’s important at these moments for some players that don’t get [much] playing time to have that playing time, so whenever we need them they are ready. If you never play them then it’s so difficult for them to be ready if we do get some injuries or suspensions.
“So we will definitely use a few players that haven’t played that much, but we will make that final call tomorrow [Saturday].”
Liverpool do not have any new injury issues heading into this game. Trent Alexander-Arnold is likely to miss out, although the player is already back in training. However, he is unlikely to be risked for this game. Tyler Morton is sidelined with a shoulder issue.
Slot said on team news, “Tyler Morton is out with an injury for a while; I think he was maybe our sixth midfielder and James is taking that position for the upcoming weeks as well. So, it’s a combination of both: it’s him doing really well and the injury of Tyler Morton.”
The visitors are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Caoimhin Kelleher in goal. Conor Bradley and Kostas Tsimikas will be deployed in the full-back areas, and they will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. At the heart of the defence, Joe Gomez is likely to return, and he will start alongside Jarell Quansah.
As for the midfield unit, Curtis Jones is likely to start alongside Wataru Endo in the double pivot. While Jones will add creativity and composure to the side, Endo will look to protect the defensive unit and break down the opposition’s attacking moves.
Harvey Elliott will be deployed in the attacking midfield role, and he will look to create openings for his teammates with his passing and vision. Federico Chiesa and Luis Diaz are likely to start on either side of him on the flanks. Darwin Nunez will lead the line for Liverpool against Plymouth Argyle.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Bradley, Gomez, Quansah, Tsimikas; Endo, Jones; Chiesa, Elliott, Diaz; Nunez
