Liverpool may receive a significant boost as they prepare to face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League this Saturday (3pm).
Despite fielding a depleted squad due to injuries and illnesses, Liverpool managed to advance to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup last night. The club’s young talents played a pivotal role in their success, securing a 3-0 victory over Southampton.
Notably, the Carabao Cup champions extended their unbeaten streak at Anfield to 29 games across all competitions. Among the standout performers were Lewis Koumas and Jayden Danns, both 18 years old, who contributed goals to the triumph.
With a wave of optimism sweeping through Liverpool following their recent successes, they approach their next Premier League fixture with confidence. Their next challenge takes them to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest at 3pm on Saturday.
The City Ground holds memories of a disappointing defeat for Liverpool last season, where they succumbed to a lackluster 1-0 loss against a struggling opponent who occupied the bottom of the table at that time.
The Reds secured a 3-0 victory over the relegation-threatened opponents at Anfield in October and aim to replicate their success in the upcoming match. A win would propel them four points ahead of champions Manchester City, who are set to clash with Manchester United at the Etihad on Sunday.
Liverpool’s prospects for a crucial away win may receive a boost with the potential return of up to four players who were absent during the FA Cup triumph. Wataru Endo missed out due to a knock sustained in the Carabao Cup final, but the team remains optimistic about his availability for the Forest game.
In midfield against Southampton, Liverpool deployed James McConnell and Bobby Clark, with Joe Gomez assuming an unconventional No. 6 role due to several key players being sidelined, including Endo, Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai, Thiago Alcantara, and Stefan Bajcetic.
Although Alexis Mac Allister was not in the starting lineup, he contributed significantly off the bench and is likely to partner with Endo and Harvey Elliott in Nottingham. Manager Jurgen Klopp also looks forward to integrating Dominik Szoboszlai back into the squad after his absence since sustaining a hamstring injury in the victory over Chelsea last month.
Szoboszlai’s return is eagerly anticipated, especially with Gravenberch and Jones out for at least two matches, while Thiago and Bajcetic remain sidelined indefinitely.
In the attacking lineup, Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz are expected to feature prominently, particularly after Diaz was rested against Southampton. However, Liverpool have been without the services of Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah in their last three matches.
Welcoming the fleet-footed forward pair back to the bench this Saturday would also be quite the boost for Klopp’s squad morale. Klopp had to rely on inexperienced youth players at Wembley, with Danns making only his second appearance, just days after his Anfield debut against Luton. Additionally, McConnell and Clark had a combined total of just 143 minutes of first-team experience before being called upon against Chelsea.
In yesterday match against Southampton, Koumas was given a rare start, flanked by Elliott on one side and Gakpo through the middle. Despite this, Liverpool managed to score three goals without the presence of Salah and Nunez. However, Klopp would undoubtedly appreciate having their quality available, even if only for a brief period towards the end of the game.
The significance of securing a win is not lost on Liverpool, especially considering the fierce competition in the title race. With City expected to triumph over United and Arsenal heavily favored to defeat struggling Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, Liverpool cannot afford to drop points.
Having Endo back in the starting lineup, along with the potential return of Szoboszlai, Salah, and Nunez on the bench, would provide a significant boost to their chances of success.
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