'For sure': Arne Slot confirms £25m Liverpool player will definitely start against West Ham tomorrow
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Liverpool face West Ham United in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday with Arne Slot likely to make a number of changes to his team.
The Reds have three games once again this week, with Wednesday’s match being followed up with a trip to Wolves on Sunday.
As a result, the Liverpool head coach looks set to give game time to a number of players who have so far been on the fringes of the first-team squad.
At Anfield once again, Liverpool will be expected to win whatever the XI Slot chooses to field as they attempt to defend the Carabao Cup they won last season.
Normally, one of the changes for Liverpool’s fourth priority competition would be to swap Alisson Becker out for Caoimhin Kelleher.
However, with Alisson currently injured, Kelleher has already played this season. The Irishman did phenomenally well against Bournemouth at the weekend. And with West Ham now on the horizon, Slot has given an update on his goalkeeping situation.
Arne Slot gives Alisson Becker update
Kelleher was excellent for Liverpool against Bournemouth. Without his quick-thinking, there’s no way the Reds would have kept a clean sheet.
The display is the latest in a long line which confirms that Kelleher is ready to be a regular starting goalkeeper.
It also underlined why Liverpool wanted at least £25m to sell Kelleher over the summer. With no one willing to match that valuation, the 25-year-old stayed put.
Fortunately for Kelleher, Alisson’s patchy injury record suggests that he is likely to get more chances than any other number two in the Premier League.
READ MORE: Caoimhin Kelleher names ‘world class’ Liverpool player as their best performer this season
One has already come this season and speaking in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Slot confirmed that Kelleher will make his second appearance in a row against West Ham.
The Dutchman also suggested that his No.62 could even start against Wolves on Sunday, too.
“It’s sure that Caoimh will be in goal tomorrow,” said Slot. “Alisson is getting there but I think this game is coming just a bit too early. We are looking at the weekend against Wolves but it’s going to be tight.
“So, let’s see if he manages to be there but he will not be there tomorrow,” added the head coach. “Caomih will be in goal tomorrow, that’s the one thing I know for sure at the moment.”
Who else is likely to play for Liverpool?
As Slot says, Kelleher is the only player he is currently sure – or willing to publicly admit – that will start against the Hammers.
However, during his press conference the former Feyenoord boss did give some more clues to his potential line-up.
Slot suggested that Federico Chiesa could be in line for a first start in Liverpool red, although did also admit that the Italian is not ready to play 90 minutes.
Elsewhere, our predicted Liverpool XI to face West Ham has Slot down as making nine changes to the team that beat Bournemouth.
We think the likes of Wataru Endo, Joe Gomez and even Tyler Morton could make their first starts of the campaign.
