Liverpool will look to continue their impressive runner form when they take on Bournemouth in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup clash on Wednesday night.
The Reds will be favourites heading into the game and they will look to book their place in the next round of the competition with a victory away from home. They are coming into this game on the back of some comprehensive victories against the likes of Everton, Toulouse and Nottingham Forest. They will be full of confidence right now.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth ended the losing streak with a win over Burnley and it remains to be seen whether they can pull off a memorable home win here.
Assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders has confirmed that the likes of Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic, Conor Bradley and Andrew Robertson are sidelined with injuries.
“Conor is not in team training but he is getting really close, he is with the ball, he is doing all these things with [Andreas] Schlumberger and that looks promising,” Lijnders said.
“It will be great to have him back because we know that he can be a really attacking threat on our right side.
“Robbo speaks for itself – he had his operation and that all went to plan. He is one of our captains, so that says I think enough.
“And with Stefan, he’s not available at the moment and we’re working with the medical team to discuss how we introduce him over the coming period.
“We really miss [Thiago] but that will take time, he will not be available. He is an unbelievable professional and an unbelievable guy. We hope to get him back soon.”
Liverpool are likely to rotate their squad in order to keep the key players fresh for the upcoming games. Caoimhin Kelleher is expected to start in goal in place of Alisson Becker.
Joe Gomez will start as the right back with talented youngster Luke Chambers on the left. In central defence, Joel Matip should start alongside Jarrell Quansah.
Liverpool are likely to shape up in the usual 4-3-3 formation and Wataru Endo will be deployed as the defensive midfielder here. The Japanese international will look to break up the opposition attacks and win the ball back for his side.
Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott will provide creativity and control to the side alongside Endo.
In the attack, Darwin Nunez is expected to lead the line with Mohamed Salah on his right and Cody Gakpo on his left.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Kelleher; Gomez, Matip, Quansah, Chambers; Elliott, Endo, Jones; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo
