Liverpool are ready to hand out another debut, with third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman in line for a start at Anfield in the Carabao Cup while Alisson remains sidelined.
Today’s most important LFC headline
Woodman, Liverpool’s third goalkeeper, will make his club debut next week as part of a substitute squad for the Carabao Cup tie against Crystal Palace.
The 28-year-old is “under serious consideration,” reports the MailLewis Steele, in what would be an unsurprising move to avoid a potential injury to Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Slot has used domestic cups to rotate his goalkeepers and with Mamardashvili moved into the No. 1 position in Alisson’s absence, it leaves Woodman to take on the normal No. 2 duties.
It would not be a new move for Slot, who gave Vitezslav Jaros his first Liverpool start at Brighton in the Carabao Cup last season in the absence of Alisson and Caoimhin Kelleher.
Woodman played 90 minutes in two pre-season games but has not played competitively since Preston’s win over Portsmouth in mid-March.
The magic of domestic cups!
Today’s Liverpool FC news
• Jeremy Frimpong has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury that Slot says will “last a while [to recover]”, while Alexander Isak and Ryan Gravenberch have doubts versus Brentford
• According to reports in Germany, Bayern Munich have had a ‘secret meeting’ Marc Guehi‘s agent (obviously not so secret). Liverpool still want him and we don’t need secret meetings to know that
• The Milos Kerkez vs. Andy Robertson There has been a lot of discussion this season and although Slot asked a question about his selection thoughts, he did explain that his new signing was a “bit of bad luck”.
• Kostas Tsimikas made just five appearances for Roma, and his manager Gian Piero Gasperini has explained that his exclusion is due to “a technical choice” – not exactly promising (Tuttomercatoweb)
• Mohammed SalahThe lack of goals isn’t a problem for Slot given his incredible performances for the club – if he could keep a few away on Saturday that would be great!
Watch Arne Slot’s pre-Brentford press conference
You can watch a preview of Saturday’s trip to Brentford on our YouTube channel here!
More from This is Anfield
The focus of Liverpool’s attack is gradually shifting away from Salah and he must adapt accordingly, writes Keifer MacDonald:
“It’s quite a contrast to where Salah found himself last season, when he was so central to Liverpool’s plans to win the Premier League that Slot effectively relieved him of all defensive duties as part of a trade-off for his crucial contributions in the final third.
“This season, as Slot looks to put his own stamp on the Reds, he would be naive to focus his plans on a player who appears to be declining physically and also faces an uncertain future at Anfield, having signed just a two-year contract earlier this year.”
READ: Mo Salah may no longer be Liverpool’s main man – and he must adapt to that
Elsewhere in today’s football world
• Rafa Benitez has made a surprise return to management, taking over the reins of one of Greece’s most historic clubs, Panathinaikos FC. It is his 15th job as a senior manager, quite a journey!
• Sheffield Wednesday are placed in it administration and hit with a 12-point deduction, they are now minus six points in the championship
• Lionel Messi has signed a contract extension with Inter Miami until 2028, he will be 41 when the deal expires – let’s hope the MLS stops using him as a money hog with tickets!
Liverpool FC: On this day
We may have just lost to Man United, but Liverpool have been dominating their rivals in recent years.
October 24, 2021 saw Jurgen Klopp’s side beat Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men 5-0 at Old Trafford on a glorious day that saw many home fans start to leave at half-time.
Naby Keita and Diogo Jota scored before Mo Salah scored a hat-trick as he struck in a club record 10th successive match.
This preceded a 4-0 win at Anfield later in the season, a memorable double!
#Liverpools #thirdchoice #goalkeeper #debut