Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs. Chelsea: ‘Last Minute’ Decision for Returning Trio

Liverpool face Chelsea in the EFL Cup final in their bid for a first trophy of the season. The fixture takes place on February 25 at Wembley Stadium. This is the Liverpool predicted lineup.

Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs Chelsea in Carabao Cup Final

The stage is set for tomorrow's #CarabaoCupFinal… ⏳ pic.twitter.com/RJXre4lty7

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 24, 2024

How Liverpool Have Lined-up Recently

Caoimhin Kelleher has started in the injured Alisson Becker’s absence.

Andy Robertson has returned at left-back, with Conor Bradley at right-back. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are centre-backs.

Wataru Endo starts in the heart of midfield, with Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones accompanying him.

Luis Diaz is on the left with Darwin Nunez up front and Diogo Jota on the right. Cody Gakpo has filled in with injuries whilst Mohamed Salah is returning from one.

Liverpool’s Recent Form and Tactics

With Jota and Salah both unavailable on the right-wing, and Nunez unavailable at striker, it was a tweaked system in Liverpool’s 4-1 victory over Luton Town.

Gakpo started at centre-forward with Harvey Elliott on the right. The Dutchman played a deeper role, as a “false 9” which allowed both Diaz and Elliott to invert. This suited the players better as Gakpo is not a poacher and Elliott is not a pacey wide winger.

Diaz played well as a target man, making central runs in behind the defence. He managed nine shots from within the box and accumulated 1.76 expected goals – eventually scoring.

Liverpool did not start the game defensively well, with Luton having numerous chances on the quick transition out wide – one of the first of which resulted in Chiedozie Ogbene’s goal. However, the Reds were unfortunate not to score, with Diaz narrowly missing two great chances.

The second half filled fans with vastly more confidence: two headers in three minutes saw the turnaround complete before the hour mark whilst another two goals the game put comfortably to bed.

Liverpool Injuries to Consider vs. Chelsea

Pep Lijnders (assistant manager) revealed injury news in his press conference, and it was not positive.

Salah, Nunez, and Szoboszlai all missed the fixture against Luton Town, but the team will “make a decision in the last minute” as they still have “two training sessions to go”.

Jones should be back from his “ankle” injury “around the international break”.

For Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, and Jota, it “will be longer”. They “will be after the international break” at least.