Liverpool 3-1 Cardiff City: In game and Post Match discussion

Luis Diaz is named on the bench for Liverpool’s FA Cup fourth-round tie with Cardiff City at Anfield.

The new signing from FC Porto is among the substitutes for the clash with the Championship side along with Harvey Elliott, who features in the squad for the first time since sustaining an ankle injury in September, and Thiago Alcantara.

Elsewhere, Naby Keita begins in midfield while Caoimhin Kelleher starts in goal.

Joe Gomez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are absent from the squad having recently tested positive for COVID-19. Both players have completed the required period of isolation and are able to resume training, but neither are considered for today’s game due to a lack of sufficient preparation time.

Liverpool Starting XI: Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Henderson, Keita, Jones, Minamino, Jota, Firmino.

Subs: Adrian, Thiago, Milner, Diaz, Robertson, Matip, Gordon, Elliott, Morton.

Good strong side and the 7 missing players all back for Thursday . Going to need everyone in the next 6 weeks so looking good fingers crossed

COYR

Man when is Gomez going to catch a break…. 😞

Strong team that.

Couple of positive tests to be expected given a lot of the lads jetted away for a holiday at some point over the two weeks.

Man when is Gomez going to catch a break…. 😞

I wish we knew mate he was so good alongside Virgil they seemed to compliment each other but what has gone wrong ?
I like the team out today get a good few goals in front and bring on Diaz Elliot  and maybe Thiago for some game time.
I think young Harvey will get one hell of a reception

Pissin masel, I got the midfield right at least, anyhoo quite surprised with a couple of the options, Minamino for one, really didn’t envisage seeing Taki at all, and Kostas too, although not so much of a surprise, but what I am absolutely buzzin about is that Subs bench, Elliot, Thiago, Diaz in particular, young Kaide too, 5 subs allowed in this comp so I think we will see Diaz take his bow, Elliot his return, and Thiago a very warm welcome back,

If everything clicks, we could see a cricket score, but air on the side of caution, it’s the FA Cup and it’s full of banana skins !!

Hopefully enough time for Harvey Elliott to get some stress free and unpressured minutes later in the game.  Great to see him back after 5 months.

Man when is Gomez going to catch a break…. 😞

Feel for the lad, but he just needs to be patient, was surprised  he didn’t go out on loan to keep him ticking over, he’s obvious 4th choice CB and maybe Jürgen just prefers the physicality of Konate, Matip is having a blinder of a season and of course he won’t shift Virgil out will he, so poor Joe will just have to bide his time.

To see Harvey on the sheet after five months is testament to his character and the staff around him a massive effort to get back so soon after that injury ,
Come on you reds top attitude today and we will be in the b next round , let’s run them fckin taffys about 😉

Good strong side that.

Great to see Keita back.

Couldn't have planned it any better really with an FA Cup game after the break. Chance to get our guys some minutes. Delighted Harvey is back..

Man when is Gomez going to catch a break…. 😞

Yea missed out due to having Covid.

Season is really passing him by

Klopp plans to give Diaz 'some minutes' if the match is going well!

What an odd time to have the draw.

Keane and Wright talked a fair bit of sense about us there which is unusual.

Yea missed out due to having Covid.

Season is really passing him by

Will be battling for his Liverpool career I'm afraid. I think we assume players will just step back in after these knee injuries, and my understanding is that Joe is really having trouble getting back to where he was. Hopefully he can do it but, we should remember it's not an automatic thing.

Big problem with this team sheet is that we only have one backup goalkeeper named, not the requisite two. 

Man when is Gomez going to catch a break…. 😞

He has not been at the level of Matip or Konate and has clearly been designated our 4th best CB.

Sad for him, but Konate and Matip deserve to play more than he does right now. He has been given more than enough opportunities.

A good CB but we need world-class CBs in this starting X1 almost every week.

Will be battling for his Liverpool career I'm afraid. I think we assume players will just step back in after these knee injuries, and my understanding is that Joe is really having trouble getting back to where he was. Hopefully he can do it but, we should remember it's not an automatic thing.

Agree.

Wouldn't be surprised if he moved on in the summer.

Couldn't have planned it any better really with an FA Cup game after the break. Chance to get our guys some minutes. Delighted Harvey is back..

Yes, great-looking lineup and should be a fun game. Imagine if Harvey and Lucho come on at the same point of the match!

Win this and it's Norwich next.

Draw really has been kind to us for what feels like the first time in ages.

Good draw that.

Uninspiring next round of fixtures. Hard to pick any game or tv out of that:
Need to make sure we are in the mix though....