LIVERPOOL have made 11 changes for tonight’s EFL Cup match against Tottenham.
Boss Jurgen Klopp hands debuts to midfielder Ovie Ejaria and Trent Alexander-Arnold while recalling Simon Mignolet in goal.
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has followed Klopp’s lead, with only Eric Dier, who starts as captain, remaining in the team after Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Bournemouth.
Spurs, who are chasing glory on all four fronts with another Champions League campaign underway, have stuttered a little recently with three draws on the bounce.
The Argie boss confirmed earlier in the week that goalkeeper Hugo Lloris would be rested: “Hugo is not a machine, he’s one of the best but he’s not a machine. Tomorrow is a very good opportunity for Michel, he deserves to play.
“Players like Lloris, they are not machines. And it is very tough to go from international matches, to the Premier League, to the Champions League and back to the Premier League, without any breaks.
“So we will rotate and we will rotate in the next few games too, because it’s important that the whole squad feel they are important, have the chance to play and show their quality.”
Spurs are without Moussa Sissoko, who starts a three-match ban after accepting an FA charge of violent conduct for an elbow on Harry Arter during his side’s 0-0 draw at Bournemouth on Saturday.
Pochettino gives American youngster Cameron Carter-Brown his debut while starting fringe players Harry Winks, Kieran Trippier, Ben Davies, Kevin Wimmer, Josh Onomah and Tom Carroll.
Kop boss Jurgen Klopp has a few injury concerns himself. The Reds are currently nine games unbeaten and are level top with Manchester City and Arsenal – and one ahead of Spurs.
Simon Mignolet replaces Loris Karius in goal, while Danny Ings, who has played just 26 minutes of first-team football this season, starts on the bench behind Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi.
Klopp hinted at the changes, saying: “I think there’s a lot to say about a few of our young players.
“We are really happy about the situation. One of the reasons why it is so easy for them to use the situation of training with world-class players and improving every day is because they don’t have to think about anything else. We try to keep this situation as long as possible.”
Liverpool starting XI to face Tottenham: Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Lucas, Klavan, Moreno, Stewart, Wijnaldum, Grujic, Ejaria, Origi, Sturridge
Subs: Karius, Clyne, Lovren, Can, Lallana, Mane, Ings
Tottenham starting XI to face Liverpool: Vorm, Trippier, Carter-Vickers, Wimmer, Davies, Dier, Winks, Onomah, Carroll, Nkoudou, Janssen
Subs: Lopez, Walker, Vertonghen, Amos, Lamela, Wanyama, Harrison
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