Liverpool will be looking to return to winning ways when West Ham United make the trip to Anfield this evening for a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie.
The Reds were held to a disappointing 0-0 draw with rivals Manchester United on Sunday afternoon, Jurgen Klopp’s side unable to find a way past their defensive-minded opponents.
Attention now turns to tonight’s fresh challenge as Liverpool look to make their way to the final four of the Carabao Cup – a competition won by the club during the 2021/22 season.
Some key names will be missing for Klopp ahead of this evening’s tie, with Ryan Gravenberch the latest player ruled out through injury. The Dutch midfielder sustained an issue during the draw with United, although an encouraging update was shared on his setback by Pep Lijnders on Tuesday afternoon.
“He’s good. That happens not often, that you send a player for a scan and everything comes out clear,” he said. “Normally when a player feels something and they go for a scan, they always find something. It was only DOMS so he’s fatigued, extra fatigue it means.
“So we have to be careful but I think there is a possibility today that he can train. That’s really, really good news. Especially because he plays well, especially against man-marking sides. He is really helpful to keep the ball. If a player is fatigued and he comes off, there is something. There is no muscle tear or anything in the muscle, but the muscle is fatigued because he feels something. We have to be careful.
“Hopefully he can train today and we can judge it. He has to judge himself, I can’t see why he won’t be available for the next week. Let’s see tomorrow.”
Elsewhere, Diogo Jota is edging closer to a return to action but Ben Doak is in need of surgery and is not expected to be rushed back. Alexis Mac Allister has been ruled out until the New Year, handing Klopp another team news blow. Andy Robertson, Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara remain long-term absentees.
Goalkeepers: Adrian, Alisson, Caoimhin Kelleher.
Defenders: Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konate, Jarell Quansah, Joe Gomez, Kostas Tsimikas, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk.
Midfielders: Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai, Harvey Elliott, Wataru Endo.
Forwards: Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz.
Sidelined: Alexis Mac Allister, Andy Robertson, Ben Doak, Diogo Jota, Joel Matip, Ryan Gravenberch, Stefan Bajcetic, Thiago Alcantara.
