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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Paul Gorst

Thiago Alcantara no-brainer decision as Jurgen Klopp awaits Diogo Jota Liverpool fitness update

Liverpool are going in search of a 10th straight victory as attention now turns to Sunday's Carabao Cup final.

The Reds will meet Chelsea in their first domestic cup final in six years as they look to secure a record-setting ninth League Cup triumph at Wembley.

With virtually a full squad to choose from, the major concerns for Jurgen Klopp centre around Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino.

The pair are being afforded every chance to get fit in time for the showpiece showdown with the Londoners, with an update expected on Friday when assistant boss Pep Lijnders addresses the media.

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Even if both are declared fit, however, their relative inactivity over the last week or so is unlikely to see either start, even if 17-goal Jota is in some of the best form of his career.

Luis Diaz's impressive early adaptation goes on at Anfield, meaning Klopp will be confident in trusting the Colombian from the start in the capital this weekend.

With 27 goals to his name this term, Mohamed Salah is a cert to start on the right of the front three which means that Sadio Mane - who notched a brace himself in Wednesday's 6-0 thumping of Leeds - could begin down the centre against Thomas Tuchel's men.

Having Jota and Firmino back would be a huge couple of boosts for the Reds, but with neither having featured since the win over Inter on February 16, Klopp may stick rather than twist.

In defence, the only real bone of contention will be whether Joel Matip keeps his place or Ibrahima Konate steps in for him.

Matip has been superb all season and a big reason why Liverpool have shipped just seven goals at home all term in the Premier League.

He was rewarded for his form - and ability to stay fit - with his first goal of the season against Leeds.

Konate has his own claims for a starting place too, having already played a part in the victories at Norwich, Arsenal and at home to Leicester as a second-half substitute when the Reds turned around a 3-1 deficit to win on penalties.

The rest of the back five is relatively more straightforward with Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold all in line to start behind Caoimhin Kelleher, who has already been assured that his unflappable performances in the competition will be rewarded with a Wembley place.

The decision not to go with first-choice Alisson Becker would be a controversial one for other managers, given it was made well ahead of time, but Klopp's rock-solid standing in the eyes of fans has seen that key call pass without incident.

It is the midfield, as ever, where the big questions come into play.

But perhaps the sizeable decisions are not quite as numerous as other team selections in recent months.

With a fully fit Thiago Alcantara currently playing some of his best Liverpool football right now, he must surely start alongside Fabinho, who has been an automatic choice for some time.

The likes of Harvey Elliott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita are all vying for a spot too, while Curtis Jones didn't put a foot wrong in his first appearance of any kind since February 10 earlier this week.

Big games call for big reputations, though, and captain Jordan Henderson may just get the nod for this one as he aims to secure his second League Cup at Anfield, 10 years after his first.

Henderson has claimed two assists from the bench in the recent wins over Norwich and Leeds and looks sharper than on his last start at Burnley when he was taken off after a frustrating afternoon.

A midfield of Thiago, Henderson and Fabinho offers the perfect blend of silk, steel and energy and whoever wins the battle in the engine room could be vital.

Possible Liverpool team : Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Mane, Diaz.

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