Liverpool starting lineup to face Fulham in the Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg – predicted

Liverpool play their last game for 11 days, with the first cup final of the season in sight.

The Reds know a strong home performance before the mini-break could all but assure their first trip to Wembley since 2022.

The Carabao Cup semi-final with Fulham could hardly come at a better time for Liverpool form-wise. Jurgen Klopp's men have won three in a row in all competitions and come into this one having just stunned Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium in the FA Cup third round.

Liverpool are also unbeaten at home and can call on recent memories of one of the games of the season in their 4-3 win over Fulham at the start of December.

A better defensive display will be appreciated this time around. Scoring higher quality goals will be next to impossible.

Here's how Klopp could line up his side to face Fulham for the semi-final first leg.

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Goalkeeper & Defence

While Alisson Becker was preferred for the trip to the Emirates in the FA Cup on Sunday, Caoimhin Kelleher has started every one of the Reds' Carabao Cup games thus far. It would be unlike Klopp to drop him at this stage.

Given there is an 11-day break between this game and Liverpool's next outing, there's little reason to suspect, Klopp won't field a strong side on Wednesday in the hopes of getting the job done in the first leg at home.

Captain Virgil van Dijk is set to be fit again following the illness that left him looking like 'sh*t' prior to the trip to Arsenal. However, the hero the last time these two sides met a month ago, Trent Alexander-Arnold, has been struck down with a knee injury – meaning 20-year-old Conor Bradley could come in.

Ibrahima Konate put in a Man of the Match shift at the Emirates but his minutes are still being carefully managed. Jarell Quansah could be in line for another cup run out – having also played all the Reds' Carabao Cup games in 2023/24.

With Alexander-Arnold out on the other side, Joe Gomez is unlikely to get a rest here, despite playing three full matches in a row. The recently recalled Owen Beck will be an option from the bench.

Midfield

With Wataru Endo away at the Asian Cup and Thiago, Stefan Bajcetic and Dominik Szoboszlai all injured, Klopp options in the centre of the park are limited.

Alexis Mac Allister will start at the base of midfield, while Ryan Gravenberch – who was a second-half sub against Arsenal – may be a fresher option to start on the left side of the three, despite Curtis Jones' impressive double in the quarters against West Ham.

Harvey Elliott should continue on the right side in the absence of Szoboszlai, while youngsters like Bobby Clark and James McConnell could be in the matchday squad once again.

Attack

Luis Diaz shone in the second half against Arsenal when moved to the right side of the front line. The Colombian may be used there from the start against Fulham to compensate for Salah's unavailability.

Diogo Jota – another one whose game time is being carefully managed – may have done enough to earn a start with his recent displays. The Portugal international is the Reds' second-top scorer in 2023/24 after Salah.

After that, it's a toss up between Darwin Nuñez and Cody Gakpo through the centre, though the Dutchman is fresher, having only played an hour versus Arsenal.

Gakpo has also been a regular in this competition to date and no Liverpool player has scored more than his three.

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Predicted starting XI to face Fulham:

(4-3-3): Kelleher; Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Gomez; Elliott, Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Diaz, Gakpo, Jota.