Liverpool’s squad has been shaved thin of its seniority by the FIFA Club World Cup, and so there will be a very youthful lineup for the Reds in the League Cup.
We’re set to take on Aston Villa as we hope to progress in the Cup – and, to be fair, the kids done alright in the previous round against Arsenal.
The full squad for the games in Doha, as confirmed by the club’s official website, is: Alisson, van Dijk, Wijnaldum, Milner, Keita, Firmino, Mane, Salah, Gomez, Adrian, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lallana, Lonergan, Shaqiri, Robertson, Origi, Jones, Alexander-Arnold, Williams.
MORE: LFC confirm 20-man squad FIFA Club World Cup squad; Wijnaldum declared fit
With even youngsters such as Curtis Jones and Neco Williams travelling, it really tells you where Jurgen Klopp may be putting his eggs with this one.
Goal’s Jack Sear shared a likely XI for Villa which we agree with – and it includes a host of unfamiliar names for any supporters not on the pulse with the younger squads.
Probably looking at something like this for Villa:
Kelleher, Hoever, Boyes, van den Berg, Larouci, Chirivella, Kane, Christie-Davies, Elliott, Longstaff, Stewart.
— Jack Sear (@JackSear) December 15, 2019
There are only two things I’d change: the first is picking Adam Lewis over Yasser Larouci, but the Scouser is out with an injury to be fair.
The next would be Fidel O’Rourke – I’d pick him over Layton Stewart, but that’s down to personal preference as they’re both talented enough to do some damage.
Let’s hope the kids can do the job!