Jurgen Klopp has named his starting lineup and makes nine changes for Liverpool’s FA Cup third round match at Wolves tonight.
The Reds take a break from Premier League action on Monday and instead turn their attention to domestic cup action, with a second trip to Molineux in the space of less than three weeks.
With several key names in the squad needing a deserved rest, and others needing game time to sharpen their touch and find their rhythm, the boss has made wholesale changes to the lineup.
Liverpool beat Wolves 2-0 in league play just before Christmas—but just four players from that night’s starting XI line up from kick-off tonight.
Jurgen Klopp had already confirmed a few players who would be involved, but there really is a distinctively second-string feel to the side.
- Teenagers Camacho and Jones debut
- Lallana absent with ‘minor issue’
- Fabinho at centre-back
- 16-year-old Hoever among the subs
Simon Mignolet starts in goal, for just his second appearance of the season.
In defence, Rafa Camacho makes his senior debut on the right and Alberto Moreno starts on the left, with Dejan Lovren and Fabinho picked at centre-back.
The midfield sees Naby Keita restored, alongside James Milner.
Xherdan Shaqiri will be wide on one flank, with a second debutant in Curtis Jones manning the other side of the pitch, leaving Daniel Sturridge in support of Divock Origi in attack.
Speaking of the two debutants pre-match, Klopp said: “You can only be successful as a squad if you have high quality in training and these boys have been consistently good. They are versatile, can play in different positions and they have grown physically.
“It’s exciting for them, and for us. They are only 18, now it is time to show up and we need them, 100%.”
There is senior depth on the bench with Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane included, along with 16-year-old defender Ki-Jana Hoever and young midfielder Isaac Christie-Davies.
Meanwhile, Wolves make five changes themselves.
Liverpool: Mignolet, Camacho, Fabinho, Lovren, Moreno, Milner, Keita, Jones, Shaqiri, Origi, Sturridge.
Substitutes: Kelleher, Firmino, Mane, Salah, Hoever, Christie-Davies, Alexander-Arnold.
Wolves: Ruddy, Bennett, Coady, Boly, Otto, Vinagre, Dendoncker, Neves, Moutinho, Jimenez, Jota.
Substitutes: Norris, Doherty, Cavaleiro, Costa, Gibbs-White, Saiss, Adama Traore.
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