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Arne Slot is expected to name an experimental Liverpool line-up for the Carabao Cup third-round tie against Southampton on Tuesday.
The Reds host Will Still’s Championship outfit on the back of three intense games since the September international break, and with the Southampton clash preceding matches against Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and Chelsea before the club game pauses again next month, wholesale alterations are anticipated.
Therefore, it’s no surprise that Slot is planning to give certain players a rest on Tuesday. The Dutchman has revealed that Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah will all be given the night off after playing every minute of the recent matches against Burnley, Atletico Madrid and Everton.
Under-21 coach Rob Page also revealed that Rhys Williams, Tommy Pilling, Kieran Morrison, Kaide Gordon, and Jayden Danns all trained with the senior squad ahead of the game. Trey Nyoni also did not feature for the youth team on Sunday despite not being named on the bench to face Everton at Anfield.
But Slot is likely to prioritize giving minutes to fringe members of the first-team squad. That includes goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who is yet to play a competitive game for the Reds since his summer switch from Valencia.
The same is true of Giovanni Lenoi, who may start at center-back and partner Joe Gomez. The experienced defender hasn’t started a competitive match since February.
At full-back, Andy Robertson could come in at left-back and captain the side. On the opposite flank, one of Conor Bradley or Jeremie Frimpong will start.
Wataru Endo is likely to play in midfield, with Curtis Jones, who has started just one league match all season, expected to be selected by Slot.
Nyoni could take the final spot in the middle, but the prospect of starting with Florian Wirtz against weaker opposition may be given some credence.
Given that Alexander Isak will likely play in the no.9 role, it could allow the pair to continue the early on-field relationship that appears to be blossoming.
Federico Cheisa and Rio Ngumoha, who have been named on the bench for all seven matches this season, should have been handed rare chances from the off.
Fans will be particularly keen to see how the latter fares after some promising signs in the opening weeks of the season. The 17-year-old’s only previous start came in last season’s FA Cup win over Accrington Stanley.
Starting line-up: Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Leoni, Gomez, Robertson; Endo, Nyoni, Jones; Chiesa, Isak, Ngumoha.
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