Jurgen Klopp has restored a host of his key names to his lineup for Liverpool’s League Cup semi-final first leg away to Southampton.
The Reds will be looking to put a frustrating 0-0 draw with Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup third round behind them as they continue their push for League Cup glory this season.
Taking on a hit-and-miss Southampton side at St. Mary’s for the first of two legs in the tournament’s semi-finals, Liverpool lined up significantly stronger than at Anfield on Sunday.
Loris Karius kept his place in goal after a quiet afternoon against the Pilgrims, with Klopp looking to boost his under-fire No. 1’s confidence.
With Joel Matip and Jordan Henderson still working their way back to full fitness after injury, Klopp’s options in defence and midfield were limited.
This meant Nathaniel Clyne, Dejan Lovren, Ragnar Klavan and James Milner returned at the back, shielded by Lucas Leiva at the base of the midfield.
Flanking Lucas in their regular box-to-box roles are Georginio Wijnaldum and Emre Can.
Sadio Mane‘s departure for the Africa Cup of Nations left Klopp to opt to move Adam Lallana into attack, alongside Daniel Sturridge and Roberto Firmino.
This could see the Reds line up in a diamond formation, as they did in their 6-1 victory over Southampton in the same competition last season, though preserving the 4-3-3 seems more likely.
Klopp is boosted by the return of Philippe Coutinho to his substitutes’ bench, with the Brazilian joining Simon Mignolet, Joe Gomez, Alberto Moreno, Kevin Stewart, Divock Origi and Ben Woodburn in reserve.
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Southampton: Forster; Cedric, Yoshida, Van Dijk, Bertrand; Clasie, Romeu, Davis; Redmond, Tadic, Rodriguez
Substitutes: Lewis, McQueen, Stephens, Hojbjerg, Sims, Ward-Prowse, Long
Liverpool: Karius; Clyne, Lovren, Klavan, Milner; Lucas, Can, Wijnaldum; Lallana, Sturridge, Firmino
Substitutes: Mignolet, Gomez, Moreno, Stewart, Coutinho, Origi, Woodburn
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