Two wins from two for Liverpool in the Premier League but their next task represents a different kind of test.
They’ll want to avoid Carabao Cup humiliation as they go to Lincoln City on Thursday night, a match you can listen to LIVE on talkSPORT, kick-off 7:45pm.
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Liverpool have tasted League Cup success eight times, which is more than anyone else. However, it’s been eight years since they last lifted the trophy.
Their opponents are potentially dangerous too. Lincoln are joint top of League One – albeit after two matches – but Michael Appleton’s side haven’t lost a competitive clash since February, winning their last six.
History shows us that Jurgen Klopp uses the Carabao Cup as an opportunity to give Liverpool’s lesser known players an opportunity, however, assistant boss Pepijn Lijnders told the media ahead of the tie that ‘a strong team’ that could ‘surprise’ the fans and media will be picked.
However, that could be something of a bluff as Liverpool’s recent transfer activity has given them more strength in depth.
Liverpool team news
Jordan Henderson, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez will be absent for the tie against the Imps.
Reds captain Henderson came off at half time in the win over Chelsea with a muscle injury but Lijnders says the midfielder should be available for their Premier League clash against Arsenal on Monday.
As for Gomez, he should also be in contention to face the Gunners as he’ll return to full training on Friday but his minor issue keeps him out of this match.
Lijnders also confirmed that the club expect Matip to return to full fitness during the next international break in October.
How Liverpool should line up against Lincoln
Lincoln will feel confident about themselves but have they come up against a player of Thiago Alcantara’s calibre?
The former Bayern Munich midfielder made his Reds bow in the second half at Chelsea, where he broke a Premier League record despite playing for just 45 minutes. We think he’ll start to give Liverpool control in a potential banana skin tie.
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Liverpool also signed forward Diogo Jota from Wolves last week and this would be the perfect chance to give him a run out.
The Portuguese primarily plays on the left but will find himself in central areas as Liverpool build attacks. On the right, we’ve gone for highly-rated teenager Harvey Elliott, 17, and Takumi Minamino in the centre playing the Roberto Firmino role.
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Academy graduate Curtis Jones should also get the nod having made many appearances for the first-team last season, while James Milner is always a safe pair of hands.
Kostas Tsimikas, Liverpool’s first summer signing, should also make his debut for his new club. The Greek was brought in to compete with Andy Robertson and needs to take opportunities like this as much as he can. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s main rival for the right-back slot, Neco Williams, should also play.
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In the middle, Liverpool are quite light with Gomez and Matip absent and it’s likely Virgil van Dijk will be rested. We’ve gone for a mix of youth and experience to play in the heart of defence.
Sepp van den Berg, 18, made appearances in last season’s Carabao Cup and looked like he struggled in wins against MK Dons and Arsenal but a year can make a difference. We believe he should be partnered by Fabinho, who is a midfielder, but the Brazilian did a sterling job marking Timo Werner out of the game at Stamford Bridge – so Lincoln’s front-line shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
Keep up to date with all the latest transfer news and gossip and in talkSPORT.com’s LIVE blog
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