MatchWolves v Liverpool: FA Cup team news
Jürgen Klopp has confirmed he will make changes to his Liverpool starting XI for Tuesday’s Emirates FA Cup third-round replay at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Klopp stressed the importance of introducing 'fresh legs' to his team, with the tie coming just three days after the Reds’ Premier League defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Liverpool boss revealed striker Darwin Nunez is 'very close' to making a return, but the Wolves clash may come too soon for the Uruguayan.
James Milner is in contention for a starting spot at Molineux after being named among the substitutes in Saturday’s game, while Stefan Bajcetic is also available having recovered from a hip problem.
Luis Diaz, Roberto Firmino, Diogo Jota, Virgil van Dijk and Arthur Melo remain sidelined for the Reds.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Monday afternoon, Klopp said: "We [will] go as strong as we can, but it always depends on the situation you are in. Not all players who played in the last game are available now, for different reasons.
"Yes, we will make changes, that's clear. But it is good as well. What I mean is [we will be] as strong as we can because we want to win the game. We obviously now need fresh legs. The easy thing is for me to sit here and tell the boys, 'Pretty much with the game at Brighton you put us in this situation, so let's have a look how you can get us out of that again.' But that would mean I'm out of responsibility and I cannot; I just can't.
“We have to make decisions about the line-up and we will, we will make changes, that's clear. Three days after the last game, I think that makes absolute sense. Then we will go."
When asked about the status of Liverpool’s injured players, Klopp explained: "[There is] progress with all.
“Darwin is very close, but it's Monday and tomorrow is the game, [but] he's very close.
“Millie and Stefan trained fully. Millie was on the bench [at Brighton] and Stefan is now available again. That's it."
Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui could welcome back striker Diego Costa for Tuesday’s tie. The Spanish attacker has missed their past three matches with a knock.
Boubacar Traore, Pedro Neto, Sasa Kalajdzic and Chiquinho are out, however, with long-term injuries.
Wolves will go into the game on the back of a vital 1-0 Premier League home win against West Ham United on Saturday.
Lopetegui said he will finalise his starting line-up for the cup replay on Tuesday morning, having gauged how his players have recovered from that hard-fought victory over the Hammers.
"Diego [Costa] is better," he said. "We have to check how our players are in the last moment. They are going to be better than today [Monday]. We play at 8pm, not 3pm, it’s different, and we have the morning of tomorrow to take the decisions."
Last time out
Brighton & Hove Albion 3-0 Liverpool (January 14): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Konate, Robertson, Fabinho, Thiago, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Salah, Gakpo.
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 West Ham United (January 14): Sa, Semedo, Collins, Kilman, Bueno, Neves, Nunes, Moutinho, Hwang, Podence, Cunha.
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