Liverpool FC are ready to kick start their Carabao Cup campaign later tonight against the likes of Lincoln City. The game against Lincoln City is a third-round tie for the Reds as the Premier League champions are expected to win with ease. Liverpool played a tough game against Chelsea last weekend, a 2-0 victory for the Merseyside outfit and thus Klopp would like to rotate his squad and give rest to most first-team players.
Liverpool FC have a huge squad with some great players who have lately missed out on footballing action. Several youngsters and new signings might take the field for the Reds in tonight’s Carabao Cup clash. The centre-back position might be a problem for Klopp, as with Joe Gomez and Joel Matip both being injured thus Van Dijk might be a must for Liverpool in the starting XI.
Let us now have a look at how Liverpool might lineup against Lincoln Town tonight in the Carabao Cup.
THE 4-2-3-1
Jurgen Klopp’s favourite formation at Liverpool has undoubtedly been the 4-2-3-1, which brings balance to the Reds team. The Liverpool will surely give Adrian a chance to prove his mettle in the Carabao Cup clash and we might as well expect some debutants today. The likes of Thiago, Tsimikas and even Diogo Jota, a new recruit at Anfield as of last week, might start tonight as Klopp would like to rest his stars for the weekend.
Origi, Milner and Shaqiri are expected to get rare starts for Liverpool as all of them have fallen down the pecking order. Shaqiri surely has a point to prove as the Switzerland international barely featured for the Reds throughout last season. Klopp had completely ignored Shaqiri and many even touted the midfielder to change clubs this summer, but nothing has happened yet.
Van Dijk will have to very careful because of the other players playing in defence alongside him. The likes of Williams, Tsimikas and Van Der Berg are all inexperienced and might lack confidence from the onset. Thus, the Dutchman will have to be at his best to make sure Lincoln don’t pull off an upset against Liverpool.
THE 4-3-3
The only other formation Klopp has used at Liverpool other than the 4-2-3-1 is the 4-3-3 which is what might be used tonight. This is a more attacking strategy to the 4-2-3-1 despite most of the individual responsibilities being the same in a 4-3-3. Diogo Jota is also likely to make his debut tonight for the Reds as Klopp would like the winger to have minutes under his belt.
In such a formation, it is difficult to accommodate both Minamino and Shaqiri as both of them play in similar positions. But on the other hand, it might also create a spot in the starting XI for the young and promising Curtis Jones. Jones has been very good for Liverpool whenever he has played and seems to be one of Klopp’s favourite youngsters.
Milner will be expected to play as the deep-lying midfielder and Thiago will be given the license to create play upfront. Jota and Origi will be bestowed with the goal-scoring in the 4-3-3, but both the latter will be rusty without a lot of game-time under his belt.
