Four Liverpool Players to Miss Tottenham Semi-final Clash Because of Carabao Cup Rule
Liverpool are preparing for their Carabao Cup semi-final clash against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield, with a crucial team selection decision awaiting Arne Slot.
Slot has acknowledged that this will be his most challenging decision yet. However, it is not a matter of choosing between Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas for the left-back position as the team strives for another Wembley appearance.
Nor is it about whether Caoimhin Kelleher should be left out, despite his significant role in Liverpool’s two Carabao Cup triumphs over the past three seasons.
Instead, Slot’s toughest decision will be determining which players will have to watch from the sidelines, knowing they will not be involved in the match. With Liverpool needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Tottenham, the selection process becomes even more critical.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is the only confirmed absentee due to injury. Fortunately for Liverpool, his condition is not severe, and he has already resumed individual training after being forced off during the team’s 2-0 victory over Bournemouth last weekend.
This means that Liverpool have 23 senior players available for selection, but only 20 can be named in the squad. As in the Premier League and FA Cup, nine substitutes are allowed, though Slot has expressed his preference for the rule to be aligned with UEFA regulations.
“I don’t understand why we don’t go to 23 in this country because this country plays the most games everywhere around the world and we only have 20 players that we can take to the games,” said head coach Slot at his pre-match press conference.
“Since it is the rule over here that is probably going to be the most difficult decision I have to make – not the first XI, but to leave someone out that worked so hard on a daily basis, that wants to be involved in the game as well. Not even taking him to the game, that’s the hardest decision for me to make.”
It is undoubtedly a luxury for Slot to have such a wealth of players at his disposal. His counterpart at Spurs, Ange Postecoglou, will likely envy the Liverpool manager’s position, given the extensive injury issues plaguing the North London side.
To begin with, third-choice goalkeeper Viteslav Jaros is expected to be surplus to requirements. The Czech-born shot-stopper delivered an impressive performance when given the opportunity in Liverpool’s Carabao Cup fourth-round victory over Brighton.
Tyler Morton is another player who will likely find himself uninvolved. The midfielder has made only five appearances this season, three of which came in the competition. Despite being linked with a deadline-day move to Middlesbrough, their offer fell significantly short. Meanwhile, James McConnell was retained at Anfield to provide cover and competition after attracting loan interest from the Championship, but he too is expected to miss out.
The next decision for Slot will be an intriguing one. His options seem to revolve around three players—Joe Gomez, Jarell Quansah, and Federico Chiesa. Both Gomez and Chiesa were left out of the squad against Bournemouth.
While Gomez has recovered from a hamstring injury, Chiesa completed his first full 90 minutes in Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League last week.
Gomez, being adept at playing right-back, appears to be the natural replacement for Alexander-Arnold. However, with Liverpool needing to overturn the tie, Slot may opt for an attack-heavy approach and recall Chiesa.
There is also the possibility of excluding Quansah, as Gomez offers cover both at right-back and in central defence. Nevertheless, leaving Quansah out would seem harsh, given that he has started all four of Liverpool’s Carabao Cup matches so far.
Slot will take no pleasure in informing the unfortunate players who will miss out. Not in the slightest. However, such decisions are an inevitable part of a manager’s role.
In other news, Liverpool Set to Get New Trent Alexander-Arnold Headache and Jamie Carragher Knows Why
