Liverpool FC lineup vs Lincoln City: Confirmed team news, predicted XI and latest Carabao Cup injury list
Liverpool will be without both Joe Gomez and Joel Matip once again when they face Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup tonight, assistant boss Pep Lijnders has confirmed.
Both players missed Sunday’s meeting with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after picking up a knock and hamstring injury respectively in training.
That meant Fabinho was forced to fill in as a makeshift centre-half, though he was among the Reds’ standout players as they claimed a 2-0 win.
It appears Jurgen Klopp will be forced to get creative once again in that position on Thursday when his team visit Sincil Bank.
Asked for an update on the pair, Lijnders said: “Joe will train hopefully Friday with the team to prepare the Arsenal game.
“Joel will be longer out, he has a hamstring [injury] so it’ll take another two weeks, hopefully the international break will solve that one so he’s ready after for the Everton match.”
Liverpool lost Jordan Henderson at half-time of their weekend outing in the capital, the captain feeling tightness in his thigh.
Asked whether he might be available for Lincoln, Lijnders added: “Hendo is a little bit difficult.
“We have to see but for sure not tomorrow and Arsenal (next Monday) will be tight but let’s see day by day.”
With both Gomez and Matip out, 17-year-old defender Billy Koumetio could be in line for a start after impressing in training with the first-team squad in pre-season.
However, Lijnders has revealed that the teenager has a fitness issue of his own that could force him to miss out.
He continued: “He has a check now. He didn’t train with the team for the last days, so hopefully he can today, that would be great, but it’s still insecure to be honest.”
Even considering his injury issues, Klopp was expected to ring the changes for Thursday’s game in order to give a number of fringe players an outing, making a debut for summer signing Diogo Jota likely.
Liverpool predicted XI: Adrian, Williams, Van den Berg, Phillips, Tsimikas, Milner, Jones, Shaqiri, Jota, Minamino, Origi.
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