Roberto Firmino faces many controversial and turn back to Liverpool today for Carabao Cup final

Roberto Firmino faces many controversial and turn back to Liverpool today for Carabao Cup final

‘He will make it’… Journalist thinks injured Liverpool player will be back for Carabao Cup final

‘He will make it’… Journalist thinks injured Liverpool player will be back for Carabao Cup final
Fri 23 February 2024 07:00
James Brooke
Jurgen Klopp was keeping his cards close to his chest when asked about Liverpool’s injury issues this week.

The manager wasn’t giving too much away following Wednesday night’s 4-1 win over Luton Town. We may hear a little more insight from Klopp when he meets the press today, but for now it’s a little bit of a guessing game.

Liverpool could really do with at least one or two of their injured cohort returning, though. And perhaps top of that list would be Mohamed Salah, who will be desperate to play in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.

So far, there’s been nothing to suggest the possibility of that either way. But speaking on The Daily Mail’s It’s All Kicking Off! podcast, journalist Dominic King has predicted that Salah will ‘make it’ to play against Chelsea.

“I think Salah will make it,” claimed the reporter. “I just have a feeling Salah will make it. I’m not sure about Nunez.”

Salah tipped to make return
We’d expect that we might have to wait until Sunday to hear confirmation of whether Salah will be in the Liverpool squad.

Klopp has so far insisted that the likes of the Egyptian and Darwin Nunez are being taken ‘day by day’ at the AXA Training Centre.

As a result, he may not yet know himself about the two forward’s availability when he addresses the media today.

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Even if he does, maybe the boss will feel it might pay to leave Chelsea guessing. If Salah and Nunez are ready or not will make a pretty big difference to how Liverpool can play. Why not keep them in the dark, it can’t do any harm.

Should either or both of the players then be named on the team sheet – or in the squad – at the weekend, it could also give the travelling Reds fans are big boost and enhance the atmosphere, too.

Mo Salah
Photo by Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images
Obviously, we’d love both Salah and Nunez to be ready to play and win another trophy for Liverpool.

But if only one can make it, then you’d have to say that Mo would probably be the choice. Nunez has been electric of late and is constantly such a threat. Salah is simply on another level altogether, though.

The 31-year-old showed his class yet again last Saturday, coming off the bench at Brentford to put on a second-half clinic. He’s still Liverpool’s talisman whatever way you look at it.

Having failed to score in Liverpool’s last three major cup finals, Salah will be absolutely champing at the bit to get out there against his old club. We’re crossing everything that he makes it. Let’s hope for a positive update today.

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24-year-old Liverpool player set to come back and start the Carabao Cup final vs Chelsea
Fri 23 February 2024 07:30
James Brooke
Jurgen Klopp does not have a lot of wiggle room with his Liverpool team ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.

Having been able to call on just 14 senior players for Wednesday’s win over Luton Town, the Liverpool manager is being badly restricted by injuries.

Nevertheless, there is still the possibility to bring some fresh legs in to face Chelsea at Wembley.

Looking at the Reds team news ahead of the game today, the Liverpool ECHO report that Klopp is set to make at least one change to the XI that beat Luton.

That is set to come at centre-back, where Jarell Quansah is ‘likely’ to make way for Ibrahima Konate. Konate was an unused substitute midweek, seemingly with the final in mind. He’ll reportedly be back in against the Blues.

The ECHO suggest that Klopp could actually surprisingly make up to four more changes. The most likely would pertain to be Andy Robertson coming in at left-back, with the other possible switches said to be fitness related.

Konate set to return
It wasn’t really a surprise to see Konate rested against Luton. Given all of the other issues Liverpool currently have and the Frenchman’s tendency to break down without warning, it seemed like a smart move.

With so many other key players missing in midfield and in attack, the Reds can at least ensure that their defence is as strong as it can possibly be.

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Of course, without Alisson Becker this is still not a complete Liverpool defence. But Caoimhin Kelleher was always going to be the man for Sunday, anyway.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is also still missing, but Conor Bradley is a more than able deputy.

As a result, a defence of Bradley, Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Robertson looks strong enough to keep the door shut.

Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
From Konate’s point of view, this little nod to his importance in the side completes his transition into Van Dijk’s key partner.

Two years ago, with the same final coming up, the 24-year-old was still very much a squad player. He started on the bench that day, coming on for extra-time, with Joel Matip being favoured.

It would have been an interesting decision for Klopp had Matip been fit for this one. But in the 32-year-old’s absence, Konate has quickly become the main man.

With Liverpool missing so many on the big stage this weekend, the Reds’ No.5 looks set to step up. That, finally, is some good news.

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Mohamed Salah converter to Christian open for full story 👇

Rio Ferdinand says Liverpool have three truly ‘world-class’ players in their ranks

Rio Ferdinand has deemed three Liverpool players world-class amid the continuing debate over whether Bukayo Saka fits the bill.

Reds trio Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are in Ferdinand’s exclusive 12-man list of footballers who can be considered world-class.

Alisson, Van Dijk and Salah have been consistently brilliant for Liverpool over the years, helping the Reds win the biggest trophies available to them.

The Liverpool trio have been crucial in landing the Champions League, the Premier League, the UEFA Supercup and the FIFA Club World Cup, as well as the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup.

As well as Alisson, Van Dijk and Salah, the list consisted of Ederson, Kyle Walker, Rodri, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr, Harry Kane, Kevin De Bruyne, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.

“I think it’s easier when you put a list together,” Ferdinand said on TNT Sports. “I was talking to Owen Hargreaves about it and when you put list down it becomes easier for me.

“There you see the guys there: Ederson, Alisson, Kyle Walker, Virgil van Dijk, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, and the list goes on. You can see there for yourself.”

Ferdinand caused a bit of a stir last week when he said Arsenal’s Saka could not yet be described as world-class.

“He hasn’t done it in the Champions League, has he? I’m talking in the nitty-gritty stages,” Ferdinand said on Vibe with FIVE.

“Saka’s top, don’t get me wrong. He’s not world-class yet.”

Liverpool extend lead at top of Premier League table
While this is a debate that many fans – of Arsenal and also neutrals – will have different views over, it’s nice to hear that Ferdinand deems three Liverpool players in that bracket.

The Reds enjoyed a great Wednesday as they came from behind to beat Luton Town 4-1 at Anfield and go four points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

Liverpool are now in with a chance of winning the first major trophy of the English season as they take on Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.

Watch Liverpool v Luton Town Full Goals Highlights 4-1 here👇

Danny Murphy says Liverpool have a 27-year-old ‘real livewire’ in their ranks

UK
Liverpool forward Luis Diaz has been described as a “real livewire” by Danny Murphy during the Reds’ win on Wednesday night.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool charges came from behind to run out 4-1 winners over Luton Town in their Premier League encounter at Anfield.

Liverpool fell behind in the 12th minute after Tahith Chong’s effort came off Caoimhin Kelleher and into the path of Chiedozie Ogbene, who nodded home from close range.

The Reds remained a goal down at the break but quickly turned the game around before the hour mark.

Liverpool’s comeback got under way in the 56th minute when Virgil van Dijk lost his marker to head the hosts level from Alexis Mac Allister’s corner.

Then, just two minutes later, the Argentina international was the architect again as he delivered the ball for Cody Gakpo to nod home.

Diaz then put Liverpool out of reach on 71 minutes, getting the better of Teden Meghi and finally finding the back of the net.

It was a just reward for the 27-year-old, who had been plugging away all evening in a bid to get on the scoresheet.

At half-time, Murphy said on Premier League Productions, via the Premier League website: “[Luis Diaz] has been a real livewire and has been Liverpool’s most likely [goalscorer].

“He wasted a good early opportunity to calm everyone down, and had he taken one of his chances it would have given Liverpool a nice base to build from.”

Luckily, Diaz’s wasted chances didn’t come back to haunt Liverpool.

The Reds went on to turn the game around in the second half, before Diaz finally found the back of the net to put the game out of Luton’s reach.

The cherry on top came right at the end of the match, Harvey Elliott also netting to give Liverpool a resounding and resilient win.

The result puts Liverpool four points clear at the top of the Premier League table ahead of the Carabao Cup final with Chelsea on Sunday.

Goal Liverpool Gakpo score a perfect goal 2-1

Watch Liverpool vs Luton Town Live match stream here 👇

‘My fault’… Jurgen Klopp suggests he has been playing £35m Liverpool man in the wrong position

Jurgen Klopp has suggested he has been playing Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo in the wrong position this season.

Cody Gakpo has endured a frustrating campaign at Anfield so far after impressing during the second half of last season.

The Dutchman was snapped up for a fee worth around £35 million from PSV back in January last year and he hit the ground running for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

But with the likes of Darwin Nunez making huge improvements this season, the forward has struggled to nail down a place in the Liverpool side this time around.

Klopp has even used Gakpo in midfield seven times in the league this term. But after the 24-year-old’s latest display at Brentford, Klopp has suggested he may have made a mistake by moving the forward into midfield.

Klopp on Gakpo’s form for Liverpool
Speaking to the media ahead of tonight’s game against Luton Town, Klopp discussed what has been a fairly testing season for Gakpo.

“The numbers are 100 per cent absolutely alright, or even better,” the Liverpool boss said. “But that Cody had a bit of a struggle in between the season was more my fault.

Footage shows how Liverpool players reacted to Darwin Nunez’ open goal miss

The reaction of Liverpool players to Darwin Nunez’s inexplicable open goal miss can be seen in fan footage shared online.

Liverpool made it three wins out of three in the Europa League with a 5-1 thrashing of French side Toulouse at Anfield.

Diogo Jota, Wataru Endo, Nunez, Ryan Gravenberch and Mo Salah were all on target in the rout.

Toulouse were level for a period when Thijs Dallinga bagged a 16th minute equaliser but Liverpool turned it on for a high-scoring victory.

But the game’s biggest talking point was in the 65th minute when Nunez was involved in the most chaotic passage of play.

The Uruguayan produced an exquisite piece of skill to beat the last defender and then rounded the goalkeeper.

But just when it looked like he was going to double his tally for the game, Nunez fluffed his lines with the goal open as he hit the post.

However, the ball cannoned back into play and straight into the path of Gravenberch, who maintained his composure to slot home.