After back to back gruelling trips to Sao Paulo and Stamford Bridge, the latter ending in a hard-fought victory, Liverpool are back in action this week in the third round of the League Cup. Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool travel to Stadium MK on Wednesday to take on the League One side, that are reeling from back to back losses in their domestic league.
Paul Tisdale’s side faced Stevenage and Southend in the last two rounds of the competition but face Premier League leaders in this game. Klopp has a quality squad, with star players waiting for a chance to showcase their abilities. He is expected to field a strong lineup, to try and go as far as possible in this cup competition that has eluded him so far in his time in England.
Team News
In early team news, Alisson Becker, Nathaniel Clyne and Divock Origi are ruled out for this game. Sadio Mane is suffering from a dead leg and will not be risked while Naby Keita is back in full training and could find a place in the Liverpool lineup in this game.
PREDICTED LIVERPOOL LINEUP vs MK DONS (4-3-3)
Defence
Alisson Becker is still a fair few weeks away from training with the first team. But Adrian has been impressive in goal and could continue in this game, with Caoimhin Kelleher only finding a place on the bench.
Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren have been on the fringes of the first team but will finally get a chance to impress this week. The duo will start together at the heart of the backline and will look to keep the likes of Rhys Healy from testing Adrian in goal.
Yasser Larouci has been travelling with the first team for a while and could find a place at left-back, a role in which he was impressive in pre-season. Ki Jana-Hoever was preferred in the right-back role and should give Trent Alexander-Arnold a deserved break, starting at right-back.
Midfield
Fabinho and Jordan Henderson started each of the last two games and should be rested. Klopp spoke about Adam Lallana’s ability to play in the no.6 role and Liverpool might experiment with him for the first time in a competitive fixture.
Naby Keita is back in training and this game could be the perfect way for him to slowly edge his way back into the starting XI in the league. He could start alongside Curtis Jones, who deserves the step-up to the senior side. They will start in advanced roles, adding creativity and grit to the Liverpool midfield.
Attack
Rhian Brewster is easily one of the most exciting youngsters in world football and will get his first competitive start for The Reds in this game. He will lead the attack for Liverpool while Xherdan Shaqiri, who has struggled for game time this season, will start on the right-wing.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who played no role at Stamford Bridge, might start on the left-wing.
Liverpool lineup:
