Liverpool predicted line-ups and teams for the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United at Wembley on Sunday afternoon
Sport
, Paul Gorst Liverpool FC correspondent and Ian Doyle Chief Liverpool FC Writer
Nunez and Diaz will be in contention to start at Wembley (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool are back at Anfield South for the fifth time in three years when they take on Newcastle United in the League Cup final at Wembley on Sunday. It represents not only an opportunity for the Arne Slot to gain his first silverware as Reds boss, but also the chance for the club to claim a record-extending 11th triumph in the competition.
Slot, though, will be without a number of key players and has some selection posers with which to contend for the clash with Eddie Howe's Magpies.
And here the ECHO writers consider how Liverpool could line up in the showpiece occasion...
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Paul Gorst
There are two major selection dilemmas for Arne Slot to wrestle with here, at opposite ends of the pitch. In goal, I am going to go for Alisson Becker over Caoimhin Kelleher. You can find detailed reasoning for that particular decision here, but the long and short of it is the Brazil goalkeeper is the best man for the job.
At left-back, Andy Robertson starts over Kostas Tsimikas while Jarell Quansah deputises at right-back in the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez. Who was it again who said Liverpool haven't had any injuries?
Ibrahima Konate, all things being well, is passed fit, so he starts alongside Virgil van Dijk. Wataru Endo gets the nod if not.
In midfield, there is a suggestion that Slot could name the four-man engine room that saw off Manchester City at the Etihad recently and given Newcastle's strength in that area of the pitch, it's would offer a numerical advantage and might catch the Magpies by surprise.
That being said, Liverpool will need goalscorers on the pitch, so Diogo Jota gets the nod over Darwin Nunez up top as Luis Diaz keeps his place given Cody Gakpo didn't look anywhere near 100% fit against Paris Saint-Germain. Mo Salah, of course, starts.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Quansah, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Jota.
Ian Doyle
The League Cup final and a chance for Liverpool to gain immediate reward after the disappointment of Champions League elimination to Paris Saint-Germain in midweek. What, then, is Reds boss Arne Slot to do?
There is some debate over who should play in goal but, really, Caoimhin Kelleher deserves to start. The lack of right-back alternatives means Jarell Quansah lines up in the position, while Andy Robertson is left-back and Ibrahima Konate is fit enough to start alongside skipper Virgil van Dijk at centre-back.
Midfield is a tricky one. But it might be the last time in a while Slot is compelled to go full strength, so it's Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister in the deeper roles with Dominik Szoboszlai as the number 10.
Cody Gakpo looked miles off it when coming off the bench against PSG, but another five days of preparation and he can be ready to start on the left. Mohamed Salah is on the right with Luis Diaz the central striker.
My team (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Quansah, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Jota.
Theo Squires
Arne Slot has a couple of headaches ahead of the League Cup final clash with Newcastle after Liverpool’s gruelling 120 minutes against PSG in midweek.
Going into the game without a natural right-back after Trent Alexander-Arnold was struck down by injury, Jarell Quansah is the best choice from the makeshift alternatives so starts at Wembley.
The midfield remains unchanged, while Diogo Jota keeps his place upfront. Both the Portuguese and Darwin Nunez have been unconvincing in recent weeks with neither nailing down a starting berth as a result.
But while there is a temptation to select Luis Diaz as false nine or go for the box midfield, I’m leaning towards selecting a natural striker so Jota just about gets the nod.
Cody Gakpo was ineffectual off the bench against PSG in midweek when making his return from injury, but Liverpool do look better as a side with the Dutchman on the left. Consequently, I’m gambling on him from the start ahead of Diaz. If ever there is an occasion to roll the dice, it’s in a cup final.
My team (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Quansah, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Jota.