Liverpool are set to welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Anfield for their EFL Cup third-round clash.
The Reds preserved their unbeaten start to the Premier League season with a goalless draw against Fulham in their last outing. But their performance was hardly encouraging.
Andoni Iraola’s side were lacklustre in the final third yet managed to create four big chances. But they failed to convert any despite boasting hundreds of millions worth of attacking talent.
They were particularly disappointing in midfield, with Florian Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Ryan Gravenberch failing to provide the spark Liverpool needed.
While converting chances has been a problem, Liverpool have also struggled to control games.
Liverpool clearly need a player who can progress the ball from deep and a reliable defensive anchor to partner Gravenberch at the base of midfield.
However, with the transfer window closed, Iraola must find an internal solution.
Liverpool are seventh on the table after collecting just six points from their first four Premier League games. It’s still early days, but the problems are glaring and could compromise their top four hopes.
The Reds now have a chance to correct some of those problems as they face a Tottenham side that have been atrocious so far this season.
Spurs are yet to claim their first Premier League win of the season or even score a league goal.
But they were rampant in the last round of the EFL Cup, thrashing lower-league Charlton Athletic 5-1 to set up a third-round date with Liverpool.
How Liverpool could line up
With Liverpool competing in multiple competitions, Iraola has to rotate the squad to keep players fresh and competitive across the board.
That said, a number of fringe players could be given a chance to stake their claim for a place in the first team in what should be a heavily rotated line-up.
Giorgio Mamardashvili should come in for Alisson, with Jeremie Frimpong, Ronald Araujo, Virgil van Dijk, and Kostantinos Tsimikas lining up in defence.
Alexis Mac Allister could be partnered by forgotten £16.2 million ace Wataru Endo in midfield, while Rio Ngumoha, Lewis Koumas, and Victor Munoz provide support for Cody Gakpo in attack.
Predicted XI;
(4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Araujo, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Mac Allister, Endo; Ngumoha, Koumas, Munoz; Gakpo