Liverpool is set to kick off their 2023/24 Carabao Cup campaign against Leicester City, and here’s the confirmed squad Jurgen Klopp will have at his disposal.
Important absences from the Liverpool: Alexander-Arnold and Thiago Alcantara
Trent Alexander-Arnold during a training session at the AXA Training Centre last week
Trent Alexander-Arnold will miss Liverpool’s third-round Carabao Cup match against Leicester City as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury. The vice-captain suffered this setback towards the end of Liverpool’s last match before the international break, causing him to sit out recent England fixtures as well as Liverpool’s games against Wolverhampton Wanderers, LASK, and West Ham United upon his return.
Assistant manager Pep Lijnders shared a positive update on Alexander-Arnold’s recovery, mentioning that he has partially returned to team training. However, he won’t be fit in time for Wednesday’s cup match, with the Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur being a more likely target.
Lijnders also provided an update on Thiago Alcantara, who has been sidelined since April due to injury. Unfortunately, there is still no specific timeframe for Thiago’s return as he is still in the healing process.
Remaining Squad Members
Conor Bradley remains sidelined as he recovers from a long-term injury sustained during preseason. However, Liverpool’s recent win over West Ham did not produce any new injuries.
The Carabao Cup not only offers Liverpool a chance to reach Wembley and secure silverware but also an opportunity to integrate younger players into the first-team setup. Liverpool boasts an impressive history in the competition, having won it on nine occasions, with their most recent victory occurring during the 2021/22 season when they defeated Leicester City in a dramatic quarter-final match.
For this Carabao Cup match, as with last week’s Europa League opener against LASK, some changes to the lineup are expected. Nevertheless, Liverpool faces a formidable challenge in Leicester City, who, despite being relegated from the Premier League last season, currently sit atop the Championship under the management of Enzo Maresca, having won seven out of eight matches.
Here’s the full Liverpool squad expected to be available for the match:
Goalkeepers: Alisson Becker, Caoimhin Kelleher, Adrian.
Defenders: Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, Andy Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas, Jarell Quansah.
Midfielders: Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones, Stefan Bajcetic, Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch.
Attackers: Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Ben Doak.
Ruled out: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Thiago Alcantara, Conor Bradley.
