Liverpool’s Injury Crisis: A Time to Shine for Some
Liverpool are in the midst of their preparations for their Carabao Cup Final clash, with a number of key players absent. A number of players are confirmed to be missing, with Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Stefan Bajcetic, Thiago Alcantara, Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota and Ben Doak will all definitely be missing through injury.
Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai all face a race against the clock to be fit in time for Sunday. However, according to the reliable Paul Joyce, all three are still considered as “serious doubts” for the final.
Therefore, plenty of opportunities will arise to a number of players, who will be looking to claim a place in Jurgen Klopp’s starting eleven in the future, as well as Sunday. Today, we’re going to be taking a look at a few players who could use Liverpool’s current injury problems to their advantage and make a breakthrough into the starting lineup regularly.
Extra Game Time for the New Lads
Liverpool completely rebuilt their midfield in the summer, signing Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch. Whilst Szoboszlai and Mac Allister have clearly nailed themselves down into Klopp’s best eleven, the other two are still in that debate.
The improvement in performances from the likes of Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones haven’t helped their case, but Gravenberch and Endo still look like incredibly smart signings. Endo has been fantastic so far this season and would be in many people’s best midfield. However, Gravenberch hasn’t quite managed to have the same sort of impact as the other three.
The 21-year-old has shown glimpses of his incredible potential and talent, but hasn’t managed to secure a consistent run of games in the side. However, with injuries to Szoboszlai and Jones, Gravenberch could use the next few weeks to really show the Anfield faithful what he has to offer.
I expect to see Gravenberch in the starting lineup tomorrow, perhaps alongside Wataru Endo and Alexis Mac Allister. There won’t be many better opportunities for Gravenberch to win over the hearts of the Liverpool supporters.
Patience is Key
This season has been a matter of patience for Cody Gakpo, who has often been Klopp’s fifth choice forward. The fantastic form of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota, partnered by the incredible drive and tenacity of Luis Diaz, has made Gakpo’s season a tricky one.
Equally, Gakpo hasn’t done enough in big games this season to nail down a place, especially in Liverpool’s pivotal Premier League games. The Dutchman has been on fire in the Carabao Cup and the Europa League this season, but Sunday gives him the ultimate opportunity to shine.
Looking back at last season, Gakpo was a revelation and was labelled as Roberto Firmino’s successor by many. A key trait of Firmino’s was his ability to show up in big-games and Sunday is a brilliant opportunity for Gakpo to do the same, with Jota and Nunez both likely to miss out.
Liverpool’s New Generation
Academy graduates like Jarrell Quansah and Conor Bradley will be looking to continue their strides towards regular first-team football. Both youngsters have enjoyed a fantastic breakthrough this season and both are in contention for a spot in Klopp’s starting lineup on Sunday.
Both players will face tricky competition though, with the likes of Ibou Konate, Joe Gomez and Andy Robertson set to rival them for a spot in the team. Either way, there involvement in this discussion is a testament to their hard-work and incredible potential. There will certainly be more opportunities for the youngsters in the future, but they could still make a huge difference in the present.
From the bench, it’s highly possible that the likes of James McConnell and Bobby Clark will be involved in the squad. Therefore, further backing up the youthful philosophy being adopted at the AXA Training Academy at the moment.
