Liverpool return to competitive action after the two-week mini winter break when they take on Cardiff City at Anfield in the FA Cup on Sunday.
Jurgen Klopp’s side concluded a successful January with a 3-1 Premier League win at Crystal Palace which saw them cut Manchester City’s lead at the top of the table.
Victory over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-finals has set up a Wembley showdown with Chelsea at the end of February and, with Inter Milan waiting in the last 16 of the Champions League, the Reds are still fighting for silverware on four fronts ahead of the Championship side’s visit to Anfield.
Having rotated his squad during the FA Cup third round over League One Shrewsbury Town, Klopp may again look to use some of his younger players against the Welshmen with two important Premier League fixtures against Leicester City at home and Burnley away to come in the following seven days ahead of the trip to Italy to face Inter.
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The Reds boss’s options have boosted by the imminent arrival of Porto winger Luis Diaz along with young attacking midfielder Harvey Elliott who has made a remarkable recovery from the serious ankle injury he suffered against Leeds United in September and managed a goal and an assist in a behind-closed-doors U23s match against Wrexham at Kirkby on Saturday.
So we have taken a look at how Liverpool could line up when they take on Steve Morison’s side for a place in the fifth round of the world’s oldest cup competition.
Young Irish goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has played the majority of the Reds’ domestic cup cup ties so far this season, including the third round win over Shrewsbury, and can expect to keep his place against the Bluebirds with Alisson having been on international World Cup qualifying duty with Brazil during the mini-break.
Conor Bradley started at right back and was one of Liverpool’s best performers against the Shrews and with Neco Williams possibly departing Anfield on deadline day, he's likely to start.
Meanwhile, with first choice Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson both having shown signs of returning to top form in the early weeks of 2022, Klopp may be tempted to give them both a bit more rest ahead of the imminent return of European football and give Kostas Tsimikas a chance to build on his excellent early season showings.
Ibrahima Konate made only his 11th Liverpool start in the previous round and can expect to go again and, while Klopp may want some experience in the back four should he go with both understudies at full back, Joe Gomez has not had a starting shirt since the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Leicester City in December and, provided there are no deadline day shocks, could get the nod as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.
Fabinho scored twice in the win over Shrewsbury but having travelled to South America for Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay may get a rest with Tyler Morton having already shown his capabilities against the likes of AC Milan in the Champions League this season.
Jordan Henderson or James Milner may be asked to be the older head in midfield with Elijah Dixon-Bonner eyeing another start after getting a run-out against Shrewsbury while Naby Keita could be in contention after Guinea’s round of last 16 exit for the Africa Cup of Nations and Thiago Alcantara could figure after returning to full team training.
The AFCON final in Cameroon takes place on the same day as the Cardiff tie so the availability of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane will depend on how far Egypt and Senegal progress but seems unlikely even if their nations are knocked out early.
Meanwhile, new boy Luis Diaz will only arrive at Anfield towards the end of the week so it's likely he watches his new team-mates from the stands. but Kaide Gordon - who scored the Reds’ equaliser against Shrewsbury - and Max Woltman will be hoping to be picked by Klopp while Firmino, Jota or - should he stay at Anfield - Minamino could provide a more experienced option.
Divock Origi frustratingly missed all of the month he could have expected to see some serious game time due to Salah and Mane’s absence due to a knee problem but, if he stays at Anfield, could be back in contention and, having made a swift recovery from his fractured and dislocated ankle to score against Wrexham on Saturday, Liverpool supporters who will pack Anfield for the 12noon kick off against Cardiff will be delighted to get a glimpse of Harvey Elliott even if only from the bench.
Possible Liverpool line-up vs Cardiff: Kelleher ; Bradley, Konate, Gomez, Tsimikas ; Morton, Henderson, Keita ; Jota, Firmino, Gordon
