da bet nacional： Liverpool will be looking to avoid an upset in the third round of the FA Cup when they host League Two’s Plymouth Argyle at Anfield today.
da brwin： The Reds come into the tie on the back of a disappointing 2-2 draw away at Sunderland in the Premier League, in which they gave away two cheap penalties to only take a point back to Merseyside and ultimately fail to significantly close the gap on Chelsea, despite their defeat to Tottenham on Wednesday night.
Like Liverpool, the Pilgrims are also flying high in their division – they are second and four points behind the leaders Doncaster Rovers as they look to win promotion to League One.
When the Reds played Plymouth’s Devon and League Two rivals Exeter City at this stage of the competition last season, Klopp decided to blood a number of youngsters in his starting XI and he will likely make wholesale changes again this weekend.
Here is FootballFanCast’s Liverpool XI to take the win…
GK: Loris Karius
If this fixture had come at the start of the campaign, then it is more than likely that Simon Mignolet would be lining up between the sticks against the Pilgrims as Klopp’s second choice stopper.
However, the goalkeeping situation has changed at the Reds in recent weeks with Karius losing his place to the Belgian, and it is instead the summer signing that should start against the Devon outfit as he looks to impress his manager again.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold
The 18-year-old right-back has already impressed in appearances against Tottenham and Leeds in the League Cup this season, and the youngster should be given another chance to show what he can do in a cup competition when Plymouth come to Anfield.
While he can also play in midfield, Alexander-Arnold has the attributes to be a useful full-back – he has great stamina and loves to get forward – and he will want to impress as he looks to push the first choice Nathaniel Clyne in that position.
CB: Ragnar Klavan
While Klopp will be keen to give some of his younger players a chance to make an impact in the first-team for this cup clash against League Two opposition, he will also be aware that he needs some experienced heads in his starting XI in order to avoid an upset.
One of those that starts could well be Klavan, who has played more first-team minutes in recent times following an injury to Joel Matip, and Klopp will hope that the 31-year-old can guide the youngsters.
CB: Joe Gomez
With a League Cup semi-final clash against Southampton to come on Wednesday night and continued doubts over the fitness of Joel Matip, Klopp could look to rest Dejan Lovren against Plymouth.
That means that there may be a start at centre-back for Joe Gomez, who has been out of action for more than a year through injury, and it seems to be the perfect opportunity to reintroduce the 19-year-old to the first-team.
LB: Alberto Moreno
The Spaniard has endured a frustrating season on the substitutes’ bench at Liverpool, but the 24-year-old might get a rare chance to impress Klopp in the FA Cup this weekend.
Moreno has featured in all three of the Reds’ League Cup ties this season, and he should play at left-back again with the first choice James Milner likely to be rested – especially after he came off at half-time in the draw against Sunderland on Monday with a calf problem.
CM: Emre Can
The German stepped into the deep-lying midfield role that captain Jordan Henderson usually occupies against Sunderland – with the skipper missing because of a heel injury – but he failed to impress as the Reds could only pick up a 2-2 draw against the Premier League strugglers.
The 22-year-old should get another chance to impress in the middle of the park against Plymouth, and he will want to put in a far more cultured display than he did at the Stadium of Light.
CM: Lucas Leiva
The Brazilian could leave Liverpool this month in search of regular first-team football, but as Klopp looks to rest some of his key men – as well as the fact that captain Jordan Henderson is missing because of injury – Lucas is a likely starter in the middle of the park.
As we mentioned previously, Jurgen Klopp will want some experienced heads in and around his young players, and the 29-year-old certainly brings that in abundance.
CM: Ovie Ejaria
Klopp has proven during his time as Liverpool manager that he loves to give youngsters a chance, and the young midfielder is one player that has certainly taken his opportunities this season.
Ejaria started in the 2-0 League Cup win against Leeds at Anfield at the end of November, before he was shown how highly-rated he is by his German boss when he also came on as a late substitute in the comfortable 3-0 win against Middlesbrough last month.
RW: Georginio Wijnaldum
It’s tricky to predict who may be given the nod on the flanks with Sadio Mane now away on international duty, Roberto Firmino looking jaded and Philippe Coutinho not yet back from injury, but Wijnaldum, who started in a similar role in the League Cup win over Leeds, could be asked to go again despite his hectic Christmas period.
The Dutchman may not be an orthodox option from wide, but he’ll bring experience and composure.
ST: Divock Origi
While Klopp will want to give his attacking youngsters some opportunities in this fixture, he will be aware that he needs a more experienced frontman to start against Plymouth to boost his side’s chances of getting a goal.
Former Red Christian Benteke started last season’s third round tie away at the Pilgrims’ Devon rivals, Exeter City, and with Daniel Sturridge a doubt because of injury, it is Origi that should get the nod up top, as he has on a number of occasions this term.
LW: Sheyi Ojo
The young forward is comfortable on either wing and he should certainly provide a threat to the Plymouth defence if he is given a start on Sunday.
With Mane off to representing Senegal of the Africa Cup of Nations and Firmino likely to be rested, Klopp will look to Ojo to provide that pace and attacking spark in the forward line against the League Two outfit to help Liverpool progress to the fourth round.