Liverpool travel to the Vitality Stadium to face Bournemouth on Wednesday evening, hoping to advance to the fifth round of the Carabao Cup.
The Reds beat Leicester City 3-1 in the third round of the Carabao Cup in September. However, they failed to build on that result, suffering a controversial 2-1 away defeat to Tottenham. Since then, Jurgen Klopp’s side have strung a five-game unbeaten run across all competitions, which include four wins and a draw.
The Merseyside outfit are clinging to fourth place in the league table thanks to their fifth successive Premier League home win—a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Sunday. Given their form, Klopp’s side will be overwhelming favourites heading into this game on the south coast.
Liverpool Team News
Assistant manager Pep Lijnders confirmed in his pre-match presser that Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic remain injured but Curtis Jones is back after serving his three-game ban. Youngsters Conor Bradley and Ben Doak have taken steps forward in their ongoing recoveries from injury.
Meanwhile, Andy Robertson’s rehabilitation from shoulder surgery is now under way.
Predicted Liverpool lineup vs Bournemouth (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
An able deputy to first-choice Alisson Becker, Caoimhin Kelleher is expected to start in goal for Liverpool against Bournemouth.
Defence
Jurgen Klopp is expected to rotate his squad in midweek, handing starts to youngsters Jarell Quansah and Luke Chambers in defence. Quansah could partner Joel Matip in central defence, while Chambers looks primed to make his second senior start following his run-out against Toulouse in the Europa League last week. Joe Gomez, meanwhile, should start at right-back with Trent Alexander-Arnold dropping out.
Midfield
Wataru Endo will sit in front of the back four, break up the opposition’s play, and initiate attacks from deep. Curtis Jones is available again after a lengthy domestic suspension and should benefit from some inevitable rotation in midfield. Completing the Reds’ engine room will be Harvey Elliot, who came on as a substitute in the 3-0 win over Forest on Sunday.
Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai could be involved at some point in the second half of the game.
Attack
Cody Gakpo is highly likely to start as he continues his comeback from a knee injury, while Diogo Jota may need to continue out on the left flank in Luis Diaz’s absence. With young Ben Doak touch-and-go, Klopp should start Mohamed Salah on the right wing again.
Given the quality of Liverpool’s attack, they could cause many problems for the shaky Bournemouth defence at the Vitality Stadium. In-form Darwin Nunez will be hoping to make an impact off the bench in midweek.
