Liverpool’s starting lineup to face Crystal Palace in Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup clash is expected to feature at least one debutant.
This will be the fourth of seven matches in just 22 days for the Reds, who have slipped off the Premier League pace after four consecutive defeats. With fatigue and form both concerns, Arne Slot is expected to rotate his squad for what is currently Liverpool’s lowest-priority competition.
In the previous round against Southampton, Giovanni Leoni made his debut before suffering a serious ACL injury that ruled him out long-term.
Freddie Woodman set for first Liverpool appearance
According to Paul Gorst of the Liverpool Echo, goalkeeper Freddie Woodman is in line to make his debut. With Alisson Becker still sidelined by a hamstring injury and Giorgi Mamardashvili serving as first choice recently, Woodman — who arrived quietly on a free transfer in the summer — is expected to step in.
The 28-year-old, who offers valuable homegrown status and has made 278 senior appearances in his career, has been on the bench seven times this season. Given Alisson’s absence, Slot is unlikely to risk Mamardashvili in a domestic cup tie.
While Liverpool cannot afford complacency amid their current slump, the Carabao Cup offers a chance to experiment with the lineup before tougher upcoming fixtures against Aston Villa, Real Madrid, and Manchester City.
Calvin Ramsay could also feature
Slot may also reward Calvin Ramsay with a rare senior outing. The 22-year-old impressed for Liverpool’s U21s in their dominant win over Everton at the weekend and hasn’t played for the first team since a Carabao Cup tie against Derby three years ago.
Neither Ramsay nor Woodman are expected to play major roles this season, but if given the chance against Palace, both will be eager to make a strong impression and capitalize on the dip in form among the regular starters.
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