Arne Slot looks set to hand out at least two Liverpool debuts during Tuesday's clash with Southampton - opinion
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net.
Liverpool begin their quest for another Carabao Cup trophy on Tuesday as Southampton come to Anfield.
The Reds have a historic record in the competition, having won it a record ten times.
Liverpool have reached the final three times in the past four seasons, winning the cup twice and confirming themselves as the team to beat.
Despite this proud record, though, the Carabao Cup is clearly bottom of Arne Slot‘s priorities at Anfield this season.
As a result, the Liverpool head coach is set to heavily rotate his starting XI when Southampton travel up to Merseyside on Tuesday night.
That will spell good news for a couple of players who are finally set to make their debuts for the club.
Photo by Steven Halliwell/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
At times over the Reds’ recent history, rotation in the cup competitions has often meant fielding a much-weakened team.
However, those days are now gone, with Slot able to put out a very strong XI, even with full rotation.
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
READ MORE: Arne Slot has big dilemma forming at Liverpool after ‘fantastic’ player shines vs Everton
That is evidenced in the fact that two of his summer signings look ready to start, both of whom would not look massively out of place in the starting XI.
Giorgi Mamardashvili will finally make his competitive bow for Liverpool having officially signed for the club more than one year ago.
It has been a long wait for Mamardashvili who is having to acclimatise to being second choice behind Alisson Becker.
He will likely play every match he is fit for in the Carabao Cup, and will be desperate to make a good impression at Anfield.
Secondly, Giovanni Leoni will surely come into the Liverpool back line for his first ever appearance, competitive or otherwise, for the Reds.
With Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate having played near-enough every minute of the season so far, Slot will turn to Leoni and Joe Gomez to run the rule over his defensive depth.
Mamardashvili and Leoni are not the only two Liverpool players who could really do with getting on the pitch on Tuesday.
The likes of Wataru Endo, Federico Chiesa and Gomez are all short on game time so far this season.
All three are likely to start, with Chiesa set to take his place in a front three with Rio Ngumoha and Alexander Isak.
Slot could throw more youngsters into the team, and Trey Nyoni is perhaps the most likely candidate in this regard.
Depending on injuries, Mamardashvili and Leoni may not even be the last of the debutants on Tuesday, with talents such as Wellity Lucky, Josh Sonni-Lambie and Kieran Morrison no doubt keeping one eye on the teamsheet.