More debuts for 'Klopp's kids'? Darwin fit? How Liverpool could line up vs Southampton in FA Cup predicted

Three days on from their Wembley triumph, Liverpool at back at it in another bid for domestic cup success this season.

Liverpool face Southampton at Anfield on Wednesday night in the FA Cup fifth round. Win this and only two more rounds stand between the Reds and another Wembley final.

It's a tantalising prospect, but the reality is that the Saints will be no walkover.

The Championship side may have lost three of their last four, but have enjoyed a strong season in England's second tier and are more than capable of playing the role of a banana skin in Liverpool's trophy bid.

However, the opponents' quality aside, the real issue for Jurgen Klopp is simply naming an XI to line up at Anfield for the evening kick off.

The Reds face massive availability issues, with half of the squad still out with injury and the other half having just gone 120 minutes against Chelsea.

Finding fresh legs and clear heads after that final is the challenge for Klopp now, with Liverpool needing to recalibrate quickly with more worlds still to conquer.

Here's how Liverpool could line up against Southampton on Wednesday.

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Goalkeeper & Defence

Following his heroics on Sunday, Caoimhin Kelleher is set to continue in goal midweek, with Alisson unavailable for the foreseeable future. The Irishman made an impressive nine saves against Chelsea, preventing 2.95 xG as he secured his second Carabao Cup title.

Joe Gomez, who ended up playing most of the final having been subbed on after Ryan Gravenberch's first-half injury, could be used at right back again, with Conor Bradley potentially required further forward.

Surely, Virgil van Dijk sits this one out, but Ibrahima Konate may just end up starting despite playing 106 minutes on Sunday. Jarell Quansah, who has played the full 90 in both FA Cup games so far this season, will start too.

The assist-maker for the winning goal, Kostas Tsimikas should continue at left back. The 'Greek Scouser' should be relatively fresh having only come on at the end of normal time.

Fresh bench options are scant. Rhys Williams could be included in the squad, while there may also be chances for the likes of 19-year-old full back Calum Scanlon, who made his first-team debut in Europe earlier this season, and possibly even 17-year-old Amara Nallo, signed from West Ham this summer.

Midfield

Reports claim 16-year-old Trey Nyoni, an unused sub in Liverpool's last two games is in line for his debut against Southampton. However, whether that is from the start or off the bench is unclear.

With Wataru Endo looking particularly battered and bruised after 120 minutes on Sunday (Klopp described the Japan captain as having "the stiffest legs I've ever seen"), Alexis Mac Allister may be the designated adult in the engine room to play in the middle alongside two young options.

Bobby Clark and James McConnell, both 19, shone in their cameos in the cup final and should start here.

Along with Gravenberch, the likes of Jones, Thiago and Stefan Bajcetic remain unavailable, while Harvey Elliott is another who is highly unlikely to be used having played the full game at Wembley.

However, there's a chance Dominik Szoboszlai could return. However, if he does, it's much more likely to be from the bench.

Attack

Conor Bradley started the final at right back but was soon pushed forward after the reshuffle necessitated by Gravenberch's injury. After coming off on 72 minutes on Sunday, he may be asked to start here given the lack of alternative options.

Jayden Danns, who came close to scoring his first senior Reds goal with a header against Chelsea, will likely be the man starting through the middle, with Cody Gakpo an option out wide.

Diogo Jota remains unavailable, but could we see the reintroduction of hoarding hurdler Darwin Nuñez, or even Mo Salah?

Youngsters Kaide Gordon and Lewis Koumas are primed for inclusion in the squad, with the latter yet to make his debut.

Predicted Liverpool starting XI vs Southampton

(4-3-3): Kelleher; Gomez, Konate, Quansah, Tsimikas; McConnell, Mac Allister, Clark; Bradley, Danns, Gakpo