Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed Simon Mignolet will start between the sticks for the Reds’ Carabao Cup clash with Chelsea on Wednesday night, but refused to divulge further details about his potential starting XI.
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk aggravated a rib injury during their Premier League win over Southampton and the strapping centre-half is likely to miss out on the midweek encounter.
Adam Lallana (groin) and Divock Origi (ankle) also remain sidelined, despite stepping up their respective rehabilitation, as does Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Chamberlain had a serious knee injury towards the latter stages of the previous campaign and is not expected to return to the pitch till the end of the 2018/19 season.
Former Chelsea striker Dominic Solanke is available after recovering from a concussion, but Dejan Lovren remains out with a pelvic issue.
The Premier League leaders have a tough run of fixtures ahead and even if Klopp doesn’t admit it, the Carabao Cup is seen as a second-tier competition these days.
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Considering the Reds visit Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday before taking on Napoli (UEFA Champions League) and Manchester City (Premier League), the German will have to make wholesale changes to his starting XI.
Apart from Mignolet, Xherdan Shaqiri, Alberto Moreno, Nathaniel Clyne and Daniel Sturridge are strong contenders to start on Wednesday night.
Competition for places in the Liverpool squad is immense, but most of the starting spots have been locked down and it’s not a coincidence that the Reds have made a 100 per cent start to the season.
Chelsea have also made a fine start to their campaign, trailing Liverpool by just two points in the league table, and their clash with Liverpool is the highlight of the Carabao Cup Third Round.