Liverpool Faces Squad Challenges Ahead of Carabao Cup Clash with West Ham

Liverpool is set to face West Ham in a crucial Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at Anfield, with Jürgen Klopp grappling with a growing list of player absences and injuries. The congested fixture schedule and key clashes against Manchester United and Arsenal in the Premier League add to the challenge of managing the squad.

In the pre-match press conference, assistant manager Pep Lijnders provided updates on the squad. Youngster Ben Doak is set to undergo surgery for a torn lateral meniscus, a setback for the player who could have had opportunities in the absence of Mohamed Salah during the Africa Cup of Nations next month.

On a positive note, there was encouraging news regarding Ryan Gravenberch, who experienced fatigue (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) during the previous match against Manchester United. Lijnders mentioned, “It was only DOMS so he’s fatigued, extra fatigue it means. So, we have to be careful, but I think there is a possibility today that he can train. That’s really, really good news.”

However, Liverpool is dealing with the absence of several key players, with no clear indication of their return before the new year. The squad for the Carabao Cup clash with West Ham is notably depleted compared to the opposition, who are expected to be without Michail Antonio.

Here is the list of available players for Klopp:

Goalkeepers:

Alisson BeckerCaoimhín KelleherAdrián

Defenders:

Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, Joe Gomez, Jarell Quansah, Kostas Tsimikas, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luke Chambers, Conor Bradley

Midfielders:

Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endō, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott

Forwards:

Luis Díaz, Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Darwin Núñez, Kaide Gordon

Players who are injured:

Thiago Alcântara, Stefan Bajčetić, Ben Doak, Diogo Jota, Alexis Mac Allister, Joël Matip, Andy Robertson

Players who are doubtful:

Ryan Gravenberch