Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp looks set to make several significant changes to the team that beat Stoke City for a place in the Capital One Cup final at Wembley, following a brutal schedule that makes this afternoon’s match against West Ham the Reds fifth in just 13 days.
And while Klopp is not expected to play the kids as he did against Exeter City, we still expect to see some significant changes made after the boss admitted he would not run the players into the ground, while he his eyes fixed on Tuesday night’s match at the King Power Stadium against league leaders Leicester City.
Liverpool will once more be without Daniel Sturridge as talk continues about just how much time the striker has left at Anfield given his on-going injury problems, while Martin Skrtel, Philippe Coutinho, Joe Gomez, Danny Ings and Divock Origi all remain on the side-lines with their own injury concerns to worry about.
Also missing will be team Captain Jordan Henderson who is nursing a foot complaint, while right-back Nathaniel Clyne will undergo a late fitness test.
Penalty hero Mignolet will be rested in favour of Danny Ward, who will be called upon to make his first start for Liverpool since being called back from a loan spell with Aberdeen to take over the Reds No.2 spot following a series of blunders by former back-up Adam Bogdan.
Klopp will however have Croatian international defender Dejan Lovren to call upon along with new signing Steven Caulker who could come in to replace Mamadou Sakho and Kolo Toure at centre-half.
Out on the flanks we expect to see Brad Smith in for Alberto Moreno and Jon Flanagan at right back to give Clyne more time to recover.
Shoot-out hero Joe Allen will be rewarded with a start in midfield alongside Kevin Stewart and Cameron Brannagan in a 4-3-3 formation.
Out wide we will play Jordan Ibe and or Joao Carlos Teixeira while giving Christian Benteke the chance to show why he deserves to get the start over Roberto Firmino.
Klopp is making a bold statement with this team selection, while showing at the same time how young player at Anfield will be given the chance to get a starting role in Klopp’s team.
