Arne Slot faces a challenging balancing act as Liverpool takes on Tottenham in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final in north London.
Arne Slot will be aiming for his first cup final with Liverpool later today as the Reds face Tottenham in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
Liverpool is looking to defend its title after a thrilling victory over Chelsea last season, which marked Jurgen Klopp’s final silverware with the club. Now, the competition offers Slot a chance to secure his first trophy as manager, with hopes for many more to follow throughout the season.
With the Premier League and Champions League remaining the primary focuses for Liverpool, Arne Slot is likely to make some adjustments for this evening’s Carabao Cup semi-final against Tottenham. However, given that Liverpool has made it this far and is facing an opponent eager for silverware, Slot may opt for a strong lineup to maintain momentum.
As Liverpool prepares for an FA Cup match against League Two side Accrington Stanley over the weekend, it could offer Slot the opportunity to rotate heavily and rest key players. That said, tonight might see more measured changes to strike the right balance between rotation and competitiveness.
One potential change could involve Caoimhin Kelleher stepping in for Alisson Becker between the posts. While Slot was tight-lipped about whether the Irish goalkeeper would feature from the start, Kelleher has effectively become Liverpool’s go-to choice for cup competitions in recent seasons, and there’s little reason to alter that, given his reliability as a capable backup to the Brazilian.
Defensive adjustments might also be on the horizon. Slot has hinted that Ibrahima Konate could be eased back into action after his recent injury return, suggesting he might not be risked for this fixture. This opens the door for Jarell Quansah to partner Virgil van Dijk in the heart of the defense.
Following the aftermath of his performance against Manchester United, Trent Alexander-Arnold will certainly be under scrutiny to see if he starts tonight. However, if he doesn’t feature, it shouldn’t be interpreted as a sign of Slot losing confidence in him. Instead, it would simply reflect the deserving opportunity for Conor Bradley to showcase his skills at right-back.
There could also be a change at left-back, with Kostas Tsimikas potentially making his first start since November, following his recovery from injury, in place of Andy Robertson. Midfield remains a bit more uncertain. Slot may be tempted to give Ryan Gravenberch a break, which could bring Wataru Endo into the fold. Harvey Elliott also deserves a chance to prove himself, potentially taking over Curtis Jones’ position in the No.10 role, while Alexis Mac Allister provides stability in the center.
In attack, the key question is whether Mohamed Salah gets a rest or continues his run. His fitness is exceptional, and his presence on the field could give Liverpool the perfect platform to edge closer to a final, which is why we expect him to start. On the left, Cody Gakpo will likely be given another opportunity to build on his strong performance in the competition, while it might be the right moment for Diogo Jota to return to the starting lineup, replacing Luis Diaz.
Predicted Liverpool lineup vs Tottenham: Kelleher; Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Endo, Mac Allister; Salah, Elliott, Gakpo; Jota.