Expected Liverpool XI vs Chelsea in Carabao Cup final as Jurgen Klopp faces Mo Salah decision
Liverpool's starting line-up for the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea is likely to include some less familiar faces due to a string of injuries.
Chelsea face the Reds at Wembley Stadium on Sunday afternoon as the two teams compete for the first piece of silverware on offer this season. The game is a repeat of the 2022 final, when the Blues were beaten in a dramatic penalty shootout.
Ahead of the game, Jurgen Klopp has been dealing with an injury crisis at Anfield, with key players like Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota all out for significant periods. Despite this, Klopp remains determined to «go for it», even if his options are limited.
Three players — Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai — are still uncertain for the match and will need to pass late fitness tests. Pep Lijnders, Liverpool's assistant manager, said in a pre-match press conference: «Dom, Darwin and Mo, we will see. We have two more sessions, two days. We will check if they can be there.»
With these uncertainties, it's expected that Harvey Elliott, Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz — who all scored against Luton in midweek,Cup — will form the front three. Behind them, Wataru Endo, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch are likely to start.
The back four will probably consist of Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil Van Dijk and Andy Robertson, protecting Caoimhin Kelleher, the hero of the 2022 cup final, in goal. Youngster Conor Bradley might also get a chance to play at right-back.
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