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Liverpool is expected to make wholesale changes as it takes on Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup third round.
Arne Slot will get his first experience of the historic English competition against League Two opposition at Anfield today. Alisson Becker played in the Carabao Cup semifinal first leg midweek, perhaps to ensure that he didn’t lose his rhythm by sitting out two matches in a row. Caoimhin Kelleher is likely to start here.
In front of the Irish goalkeeper, Liverpool could go a couple of different ways. Kostas Tsimikas and Conor Bradley started against Spurs but does that mean they will here too? That seems most logical though we might see Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson at some point to keep their legs ticking.
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At center-back, Slot’s options are limited. Virgil van Dijk needs a break while Wataru Endo slotted in there well when Jarell Quansah went down at Spurs. Quansah was ill but he is expected to be fine to play here, so should start.
If Endo starts at center-back, that could mean Tyler Morton playing as the number six, but the Liverpool academy graduate had a knock midweek. If he misses out, perhaps that could hand a chance to James McConnell. As the number eights, Harvey Elliott and Trey Nyoni will hope to get minutes; Dominik Szoboszlai could be another option if he is fully back from illness.
Darwin Nunez and Federico Chiesa could do with some action as well. Luis Diaz, as the main forward option who didn’t start against Tottenham, could get an hour here. Alternatively, if Szoboszlai plays then Elliott could find himself in the front three. Rio Ngumoha could feature but he is highly unlikely to be thrown in from the off.
Liverpool predicted lineup vs. Accrington Stanley: Kelleher; Bradley, Endo, Quansah, Tsimikas; Elliott, Morton/McConnell, Nyoni; Chiesa, Nunez, Diaz.