Kop boss does admit there will be several changes for Tuesday night’s tie at Leicester City however…
Liverpool’s quest for a record-extending ninth League Cup triumph gets underway tonight in the third round of a competition now sponsored by the Thai energy drinks company Carabao.
The Merseysiders, who have made at least the quarter-finals in each of the past three seasons, will face a difficult early test of their 2017/18 credentials when they travel to Leicester City.
Jürgen Klopp‘s side have been comfortably beaten on both of their previous two visits to the King Power Stadium – Jamie Vardy the tormentor in chief with three goals as the Foxes claimed 3-1 and 2-0 victories in the Premier League.
With Champions League football on the agenda this term for a first time during his Anfield reign, Klopp was asked during Monday’s pre-match press conference if he would still be looking to advance to the latter stages of the competition.
“What is my alternative?” replied the former Borussia Dortmund boss. “To go to Leicester with a white flag? Or say, ‘If you want to go to the semi-finals in January, then do it because we don’t want to be part of it’?
“We had a few line-ups and everything was good in the last few years when we went through this competition in different games and then, at one point, we didn’t have the opportunity to line up the strongest side and [people said I did not] respect the cup competitions. That’s obviously not so nice.
“In this moment, we have the players for it and I think the squad is wide enough to play in different competitions and to come as far as possible and that’s the plan at the moment.
“No player who is involved tomorrow is involved because I hope we go out of this competition. We are really there to win the game. It will be difficult enough but this competition is good.”
Klopp went on to confirm that Marko Grujic, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Danny Ward will all start, while also hinting that Danny Ings and Jon Flanagan are likely to be part of the matchday squad.
The German will continue to be without Nathaniel Clyne (hamstring) and Adam Lallana (thigh) however, although both are said to be making good progress in their recoveries from injury.
The hosts, who have lifted the trophy on three occasions, will be minus Christian Fuchs (eye), Matty James (Achilles) and Robert Huth (ankle) and, perhaps crucially, Vardy is also a doubt due to a groin problem.
The game is scheduled for a 7.45pm BST kick-off and will be broadcast live in the UK on both Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football.
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