Every week before a Liverpool match, a panel of Read Liverpool writers will come together and choose who they would throw out on the pitch and how they’d arrange the team.
Think yours is better than any of ours? Tweet me (@tombogert) your XI in the days leading up to the next game and you might be picked to have your say in this article as the “Your Liverpool XI” writer for that match.
Tom Bogert: (3-5-2) Bogdan; Toure, Lovren, Gomez; Ibe, Rossiter, Chirivella, Teixeira, Moreno; Ings, Origi
The shape is a product of looking to get as many fringe/younger players involved as possible. Clyne should not be anywhere near the pitch for this match; he’s too important to the side to be risked against Carlisle in the League Cup.
Bogdan deserves some minutes, as does Kolo Toure, of course, who’d captain the side for me.
Ibe returns to cause havoc down the right, Moreno plays on the left to build off his recent good play. He shouldn’t play the 90 if he is to keep his role in the first team come the weekend.
Joao Teixeira should flourish behind the two strikers and (on paper at least) goals shouldn’t be so hard to come by.
Sam Davies: (4-4-2 diamond) Bogdan; Randall, Skrtel, Lovren, Gomez; Chirivella; Milner, Rossiter; Lallana; Ings, Origi.
The League Cup is an opportunity for fans to see some of the younger and fringe players. If Bogdan doesn’t start then I don’t know how he’ll get game time at the club.
Randall would be my choice at right-back purely down to the fact we don’t have much depth in that position. Lovren needs to get as much game time as possible to improve.
Chirivella and Rossiter were solid at playing in front of the back four in the Europa League.
Origi could get some much-needed game time and goals if he wants to avoid being a flop in the Red shirt.
I do think we’ll see some youngsters on the bench like Cleary, Brannagan and possibly Teixeira.
Ste Hoare: (3-5-2) Bogdan; Gomez, Toure, Lovren; Ibe, Moreno, Can, Rossiter, Milner; Ings, Origi
I think Brendan will want to try 3-5-2 for a while, hence the shape. This side has some fringe/young players in, all of whom need games, and it allows his some senior players a rest too.
There’s still some experienced guys in to help, something Brendan seems to do in these type of games. It should be more than good enough to beat Carlisle!
Jack Bird: (3-5-2) Bogdan; Gomez, Toure, Sakho; Clyne, Rossiter, Can, Firmino, Moreno; Ings, Origi
Moreno’s performances of late have made left-back/left-wing-back a tougher fight than early on in the season, and along with the resurgence of Sakho, it means Gomez might lack starts in big matches – so this seems ideal to keep the cobwebs off him.
Rossiter and Can impressed recently and Firmino is bound to once he gets played in the right position. Hopefully Ings can prove how much of a bargain I believe he is and carry on this run of form too – something I hope Origi could kick start against a lesser side like Carlisle.
While two points against Bordeaux and Norwich don’t bode amazingly well for the formation, these things take time and we can see the benefits already.
Dan Wilcox: (3-5-2) Bogdan; Gomez, Toure, Sakho; Clyne, Can, Milner, Firmino, Moreno; Ings, Origi
I’m going with a strong team. Bogdan deserves a game. Sakho at the back to lead. Gomez and Toure to join him – both usually solid.
Can, Milner and Firmino to add creativity and work rate in the middle of the park.
Ings has to start after his goal on Sunday, and I’d like to see what Origi can do against ‘lesser’ opposition. Formation choice goes without saying.
