Liverpool Vs Fulham: The Reds Without 10 Players In The First Semifinals Of The Carabao Cup

Liverpool lost a number of players against Fulham in the Carabao Cup (X/@LFC).

JAKARTA - Defender Trent Alexander-Arnold became Liverpool's last injured player so that he missed the first leg of the Carabao Cup semifinal against Fulham at Anfield Stadium, Thursday, January 11, 2024, early in the morning WIB. A total of 10 players missed the match.

Alexander-Arnold suffered a knee injury when Liverpool beat Arsenal 2-0 in the FA Cup third round match. In that match, Alexander-Arnold captained for Virgil van Dijk.

Assistant manager Pep Lijnders said the defender had to rest for several weeks. Thus, the England defender is confirmed to be absent against Fulham.

"This is not good news for us. Trent suffered a knee injury in the last game. There was a slight tear in the ligament and it took time for his recovery," Lijnders said.

Lijnders further said, "He has undergone the scan and has to rest for several weeks."

Alexander-Arnold's absence made Liverpool lose many players against Fulham. Previously, mainstay forward Mohamed Salah had left Anfield for strengthening Egypt in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Not only Salah, but also midfielder Wataru Endo who defended Japan in the 2023 Asian Cup. Endo could not refuse the call of Samurai Blue because of his status as the captain of the national team.

Meanwhile, the players who were absent due to injury included Dominik Szoboszlai (hamstring), Joel Matip (lutut), Andrew Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas (both shoulder injuries), Thiago Alcantara (penders), and young Stefan Bajcetic. calf injury.

Van Dijk actually just recovered from an injury that made him miss the FA Cup game. If he doesn't recover, he completes 10 absent players.

If you show good developments, this Dutch national team defender can start at the heart of defense with Ibrahima Konate.

Then, young defender Conor Bradley replaced Alexander-Arnold as right-back. Despite being 20, Bradley is able to perform brilliantly so it is predicted that they will enter the senior team in the following years. On the left Joe Gomes is the first choice.

The absence of Salah in the front lines, then Jurgen Klopp's manager still relies on Darwin Nunez as the center forward. He worked hand in hand with Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz.

With such composition, it was Cody Gakpo who started against Arsenal who would sit on the bench.

Fulham himself lost Nigerian duo Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi who will appear in the Africa Cup of Nations. Meanwhile, Adama Traore and Tim Ream could not appear because they had not recovered from injury.

Manager Marco Silva will return to play Joao Palhinha and Raul Jimenez. Both were rested against Rotherham in the FA Cup.

Liverpool Lineup Forecast (4-3-3): Neckneck; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez; Jones, Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Jota, Nunez, Diaz

Fulham (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Adarbioyo, Diop, Robinson; Liquidey, Palhinha; Wilson, Pereira, Decordova-Reid; Jimenez