With Mo Salah gone and Cody Gakpo, Wataru Endo and Giovanni Leoni injured, the opportunity has been created for a number of Liverpool youngsters to gain first-team experience.
Calvin Ramsay, Wellity Lucky, Kieran Morrison and Tommy Pilling were all called up for Friday’s training in Kirkby ahead of the team’s trip to London later that day.
In addition, Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha were also involved as usual, while Stefan Bajcetic was spotted separately from the squad in the gym and running around the pitches.
Liverpool’s many missing players in recent weeks have left the likes of Lucky and Ramsay on the bench in the Premier League.
For the Reds’ match against Tottenham, there is a possibility that Pilling, a technically gifted midfielder, could make the bench for the first time in the competition.
Twenty players are allowed in the matchday squad.
Possible XI: Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones, Wirtz; Ekitike, Isak
Liverpool’s guaranteed bench players should be: Giorgi Mamardashvili, Jeremy Frimpong, Federico Chiesa, Andy Robertson, Rio Ngumoha, Trey Nyoni and Dominik Szoboszlai.
The Hungarian was expected to start, but an ankle injury against Brighton casts doubt on his involvement. However, he trained on Friday, so he should at least be on the bench.
This leaves two places. Lucky is expected to take one spot as, apart from Van Dijk and Konate, he is the only other natural centre-back training with the first team.
Ramsay was left on the bench last weekend, but Frimpong’s return means Liverpool already have two right-backs in the squad, so he may no longer be needed.
This would leave room for Pilling or Morrison, both talented players. Morrison is the more attacking of the pair and, unlike Pilling, already made his debut against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup earlier this season.
Of course, Slot could choose to name only eight substitutes, which would not be an unprecedented move. However, it makes sense to give young people the valuable experience of being involved, even when they are not on the field.
There are also no under-21 matches this weekend, so they won’t miss out on playing time elsewhere.
In another scenario, Liverpool would bench both backup goalkeepers, Mamardashvili and Freddie Woodman, leaving no room for Pilling or Morrison.
Liverpool team in training at Fridqy
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Mamardashvili, Woodman
Defenders: Van Djk does
Midfielders: Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Wirtz, Mac Allister, Jones, Nyoni, Pilling
Forward: Instead, Isach, China, Bird
#Slot #calls #Liverpool #youngsters #match #Tottenham