Liverpool will go full strength for the EFL Cup semi-final tie with Southampton on Wednesday evening, Jurgen Klopp today told a packed press-conference.
The German deployed the youngest starting XI in the club’s history on Sunday, which was met with criticism from some quarters, but is bringing back the big guns for the midweek trip to St.Mary’s.
“We made the changes yesterday for different reasons. I actually think there were no alternatives at this moment,” he said, cited in the Echo.
“Wednesday, the best team we can play, that’s how it is. Last year (two legs) a surprise, this year I’m used to it. All good.”
The boss also claimed it’s ‘pretty likely’ Loris Karius will start in goal again, after a very simple clean-sheet in the FA Cup 3rd Round draw with Plymouth.
Judging by what’s been said and who is fit, we can see this being the team that starts: Karius, Clyne, Lovren, Klavan, Milner; Can, Wijnaldum, Lallana; Firmino, Sturrige, Origi
Coutinho, Joel Matip and Jordan Henderson are all back in full training though, and should return to the side on Sunday for the crunch Premier League clash with Manchester United, along with Simon Mignolet – Liverpool’s current first-choice goalkeeper.
Mignolet should come in for Karius, Matip (possibly) for Klavan, Henderson for Can and Coutinho for Origi.
Hopefully both lineups will be strong enough to win their respective matches.