After an exhausting League Cup clash on Tuesday night, Jurgen Klopp has made a number of changes to his side to take on West Ham United in the FA Cup.
Klopp hinted at a youthful selection in his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, and with one eye on Tuesday’s visit to Leicester City‘s King Power Stadium, the German followed through with his promise.
In goal, Simon Mignolet retains his place to marshal a relatively strong back line reinforced by the return of Dejan Lovren.
Lovren is joined by Steven Caulker, Nathaniel Clyne and Brad Smith in defence.
Looking to secure their first win over West Ham this season, having lost twice in the Premier League so far, Klopp looks set to field a 4-3-3 formation.
This sees Joe Allen deployed as his midfield leader, alongside Cameron Brannagan and Kevin Stewart.
Allen will captain the Reds this evening.
Christian Benteke is restored to the focal role in Klopp’s attacking line, with Roberto Firmino rested.
Flanking the hulking Belgian are Jordon Ibe and Joao Carlos Teixeira, who will be tasked with supplying Liverpool with pace and creativity from the wide areas, and exploit West Ham‘s weakened full-back ranks.
On the bench are Danny Ward, Connor Randall, Jose Enrique, Tiago Ilori, Pedro Chirivella, Sheyi Ojo and Jerome Sinclair.
Though Klopp has made 10 changes to the side that secured progress to the League Cup final on Tuesday night, the 48-year-old is confident his side can grab a result at Anfield.
“It will be a young team. But most footballers are still young,” he said on Friday.
“We will make changes but only because we want to win the game. The last FA Cup game against Exeter was great.
“The boys will give everything.”
Liverpool: Mignolet; Clyne, Caulker, Lovren, Smith; Stewart, Allen, Brannagan; Ibe, Teixeira, Benteke
Substitutes: Ward, Ilori, Randall, Enrique, Chirivella, Ojo, Sinclair
West Ham: Randolph; Tomkins, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Obiang, Song, Kouyate; Moses, Payet, Valencia
Substitutes: Howes, O’Brien, Collins, Oxford, Cullen, Antonio, Jelavic
Liverpool vs. West Ham will kick off at 5:30pm at Anfield, with This is Anfield’s live coverage beginning at 5:00pm. Stay with us for updates, analysis and reaction throughout.
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