The latest Liverpool team news, injury updates and predicted line-up ahead of their EFL Cup clash with Spurs.
Liverpool get their EFL Cup campaign going with a third-round tie against a struggling Tottenham Hotspur side on Tuesday evening – but the Reds’ own form has been far from perfect, and injuries could hamper Andoni Iraola’s efforts to kick-start his side’s season.
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Five first-team players missed game against Fulham over the weekend, a match which saw Iraola make several key changes to his line-up only to be rewarded with another somewhat disappointing draw.
With kick-off at Anfield fast approaching, we’ve collected all of the latest Liverpool team news and injury updates below, and taken our best guess at the likely starting line-up against a Spurs side who have some fitness problems of their own.
Will Joe Gomez return to face Tottenham Hotspur?
Joe Gomez has yet to feature for Liverpool this seasonplaceholder image
Joe Gomez has yet to feature for Liverpool this season | Getty Images
Of Liverpool’s injured players, versatile defender Joe Gomez is the closest to a return – and could make his first appearance of the season against Spurs on Tuesday evening.
Iraola told the media that the 29-year-old had returned to first-team training ahead of the EFL Cup tie, adding that he believed Gomez would be available while stressing that his minutes would be managed as he comes back from a muscular injury sustained during a pre-season friendly in late July.
“He is training with the team,” Iraola told the press during his pre-match press conference. “I think he’s going to be available for tomorrow, and now it’s a matter of deciding how much he can play and what is the best thing to do.”
If Gomez is deemed fit enough, he could start ahead of either Jérémy Jacquet or Ronald Araújo in order to allow Iraola to rotate his preferred starters. Two defenders who won’t be involved against Spurs, however, are Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni, who are still some way away from making their respective returns from serious knee injuries.
Iraola told the media on Monday that Bradley was “not close” to making his comeback, with a November return looking like the most best-case scenario. Leoni, meanwhile, is expected to return to full training during the forthcoming international break.
Will Liverpool ring the changes against Spurs?
Andoni Iraola remains unbeaten as Liverpool manager - but is still searching for winning formplaceholder image
Andoni Iraola remains unbeaten as Liverpool manager - but is still searching for winning form | Getty Images
Iraola gave few clues as to whether he would make significant changes for the game against Spurs during his pre-match press conference, but did confirm that reserve goalkeeper Giorgio Mamardashvili would start ahead of Alisson Becker.
Elsewhere, younger players such as Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni will hope for starts, while Jeremie Frimpong could come back into the starting line-up as he makes his case to return to the right-back role ahead of new arrival Araújo.
Cody Gakpo, who made his comeback from a minor injury against Fulham from the bench, is unlikely to start while Bradley Barcola and Alexander Isak could be rested – if the Swede is relegated to the bench, either Victor Muñoz or Lewis Koumas is likely to start up front.
Other attacking options remain unavailable due to injury issues: Hugo Ekitiké (calf) is likely to be sidelined until late November, while Federico Chiesa is expected to miss three to four more weeks due to a lower back problem.
Liverpool predicted line-up vs. Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Tsimikas, Van Dijk, Gomez, Frimpong; Endo, Nyoni; Ngumoha, Mac Allister, Muñoz; Koumas.