Here we go then reds, our last game before the winter break has arrived. Our 11th game in 40 days sees us go up against Fulham in the Carabao Cup semi-finals. A home first leg is the perfect opportunity to set a marker down before the lads enjoy a much-deserved break.
It is important we do not underestimate what Fulham can do. Let’s not forget they almost left Anfield victorious last time out before some Endo and Alexander-Arnold heroics saved us. They are a stubborn outfit with an excellent manager and so we have to be ready for it. It is also the furthest that the cottagers have ever made it in the league cup so they are not going to go out with a whimper you would imagine. But, I firmly believe if we turn up as we should then it will not matter what Fulham do because we should be running out as comfortable winners heading into the second leg.
However, the reds will have to do the work without their vice-captain in Trent Alexander-Arnold who sustained a knee injury during the win against Arsenal on Sunday. He is supposed to be sidelined for at least 3 weeks after a scan showed a little tear in the lateral ligament of his knee. This is frustrating especially for Alexander-Arnold who has recently found some impeccable form, but in one sense it has came at a reasonable time. With our game against Fulham being our last one for 11 days it means that he has some time to recover without missing any games. This also gives a brilliant opportunity to Conor Bradley who I expect to start. You have to remember Trent Alexander-Arnold was given his opportunity due to injuries and so Bradley has an opportunity to make the right-back position his over the next month or so. Some reds also believing Alexander-Arnold’s destiny lies in the midfield and this would suit Conor Bradley perfectly.
On a more positive team selection note our skipper is expected to return after suffering from illness on the weekend. This provides a headache as to who will partner Virgil Van Dijk as Jarell Quansah and Ibrahima Konate were both excellent at the Emirates. I would personally select Quansah as it is a cup competition and so he deserves his opportunity. As for the goalkeeper, it is confirmed that Kelleher will play as this is his competition.
Moving further forwards, I would like to see Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott keep their places from the weekend. With a front-line I would expect Luis Diaz to occupy the right, Darwin Nunez from the left and Diogo Jota leading the line. This 11 has more than enough quality to win convincingly against Fulham. Whilst it is the cup and arguments for more rotation are valid we cannot forget we are two legs away from another trip to Wembley under Jurgen Klopp and especially with the opponents left in the cup we are favourites and can expect to see Virgil Van Dijk’s way of lifting a trophy in February. I might be getting a little ahead of myself there, but that is what these relentless reds can do to you.
The argument to go strong is also validated by the break we have after this game so there is no requirement to rest players. And with the second-leg being sandwiched between our trip to Bournemouth and our 4th round FA Cup tie, we do not want to leave ourselves a mountain to climb. Ideally, go strong at Anfield and win comfortably. Then we can manage the second leg accordingly whilst possibly resting some players. But like I alluded to at the start this is not an easy night at the office. I expect a resilient Fulham and with the quality to hurt us through chances of their own. We play our game and we are at it with the crowd up for it we can have it our way. Let’s go again redmen, for the 11th time in 40 days.
The team I would expect to start: Kelleher, Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Gomez, Mac Allister, Elliott, Jones, Diaz, Jota, Nunez
Score prediction: LIVERPOOL 3-1 FULHAM
That concludes the match build-up. I hope you enjoyed the read. Please get your opinion in the comments, it would be massively appreciated. Up the Mighty Reds.
Good read that Joe. Harvey Smelliot disaster-class inbound