Liverpool will be eager to return to winning ways and qualify for the EFL Cup quarter-finals when they welcome Crystal Palace to Anfield for the fourth-round clash on Wednesday night. Arne Slot has a new injury concern to worry about ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Slot has been sweating over Curtis Jones’s fitness, as he went off with a knock in the Premier League clash with Brentford this past weekend. The English midfielder faces a late fitness test to determine his availability. Ryan Gravenberch (ankle) and Alexander Isak (groin) are in the same boat.
However, Alisson Becker (hamstring), Giovanni Leoni (knee), and Jeremie Frimpong (thigh) remain in the treatment room. Meanwhile, during his pre-match matchday programme, Slot discussed Crystal Palace’s threat and the team he was considering for the EFL Cup fourth-round tie.
The Liverpool manager wrote, “Of course we have already faced Palace in the Premier League this season and the result on that occasion was not what we would have hoped for. Credit to Palace for that.”
“Their winning goal came very late on that occasion after we had equalised following a difficult first half for us, so we should be aware not just of the problems they can cause but also of their ability to keep going until the final whistle.”
“At the time of writing these notes I have not made a final decision on the squad that we will use for this game – there is a need to train and to check on availability – but whichever players we use have to be ready to face a team like Palace.”
Freddie Woodman may make his competitive debut for Liverpool in the EFL Cup fourth-round tie with Crystal Palace, with the home side lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him. The backline should feature Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, and Andrew Robertson.
As for the midfield unit, Wataru Endo should line up alongside Stefan Bajcetic in the double pivot, with Florian Wirtz reprising the no. 10 role. Finally, Hugo Ekitike will lead the line for the 2024/25 EFL Cup runners-up, with Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha being the two wide attackers.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Woodman; Bradley, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson; Bajcetic, Endo; Chiesa, Wirtz, Ngumoha; Ekitike
