Liverpool take on Southampton on Wednesday as the Carabao Cup continues into the quarter-finals.
The Reds are proud holders of the competition, having extended their record-breaking winning run under Jurgen Klopp last season.
For Arne Slot, he would no doubt love nothing more than to make it back-to-back wins for Liverpool and pick up his first trophy at the club in February.
However, with injuries ravaging the Liverpool squad and with important Premier League games coming up, Slot is very much set to go with a B-team at Southampton.
Saints are struggling, are bottom of the league and have just sacked manager Russell Martin. But it will still be tough for a young Reds’ team on the South Coast.
And as Slot prepares to make some surprise selections, some will be pondering whether 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha could be about to get his first-team debut for Liverpool.
(THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool in action during the U18 Premier League game at AXA Training Centre on December 14, 2...
Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Rio Ngumoha unlikely to play against Southampton
Ngumoha has earned rave reviews since arriving from the Chelsea academy over the summer.
The youngster looks like a really exciting talent and has already been training alongside the senior squad at the Liverpool training ground.
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As a result, it feels like his debut under Slot is not going to be too far away.
With changes expected for Wednesday, it could be the perfect time to introduce Ngumoha for a cameo at St Mary’s.
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However, according to The Daily Mail, it does not appear likely that the dazzling forward will be in the squad for the Carabao Cup clash.
They claim that the match ‘may come too soon’ for Ngumoha, with Liverpool said to be taking a stance of ‘not wanting to rush’ the youngster’s development.
Will any youngsters be involved?
Ahead of Wednesday’s game, Slot only has four fit, senior defenders to pick from.
As a result, the Liverpool head coach is almost certain to play at least one player from the academy in the back line at Southampton.
Amara Nallo looks likely to play, with the centre-back now Slot’s fourth choice centre-back while Ibrahima Konate remains injured.
James Norris could get his chance at left-back as well, with Andy Robertson suspended and Kostas Tsimikas injured.
Other potential candidates for game time could be the likes of Jayden Danns, James McConnell and Trey Nyoni.
Perhaps there’ll be a surprise and we’ll see Ngumoha on the bench. But it sounds like we’ll have to wait to catch a glimpse of him out on the pitch.
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